Video: Anthony Sweeney talks about big game in TexasDe La Salle quarterback excited to represent his school and state.MANSFIELD, Texas — A nearly full orange moon sat above picturesque Vernon Newsom Stadium as
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) coach Justin Alumbaugh addressed his 60 or so players in the end zone.
The Spartans, the nation's top-ranked team by MaxPreps, had just arrived in Texas for the first time in their storied history about an hour before.
Alumbaugh couldn't contain his enthusiasm in a perfectly manicured stadium that seats 11,500 fans.
De La Salle defensive coordinator Terry Eidson addresses his team at practice Thursday night at Vernon Newsom Stadium in Mansfield, Texas. That is where the Spartans will play Trinity (Euless) on Saturday night.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Those seats figure to be filled Saturday, when De La Salle plays perennial national and Texas power
Trinity (Euless, Texas) at 8 p.m. (local time).
"You're a long way from home with your best friends, in Texas, playing the game you love," he said. "I'm giddy for you. This is perfect."
This was the second workout of the day for the Spartans, who caught a 5-hour flight from the Bay Area to Dallas. The plane was delayed an hour and upon their arrival — they took two tour buses from DFW airport to Mansfield, about a 40-minute drive.
De La Salle senior quarterback
Anthony Sweeney shared Alumbaugh's enthusiasm, not only because of the chance to play against Trinity in Texas, but also because he missed eight games with knee and elbow injuries last year when the Spartans went 14-0 and won a fourth state Open Division title in five years.
"For five months we've been talking about going to Texas and now we're here and the game is two days away," Sweeney said with a giant smile. "It's game time. It feels surreal. I'm so excited and I know my teammates are as well."
Sweeney described stepping off the plane like "stepping out on someone's stomping ground. It feels like we stepped into a war zone."
The swift 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior, considered one of the best leaders in school history, said that although he's excited about representing California in a showdown game with a Texas team, he's playing for his program.
"We're representing Spartans past and future," he said. "The biggest thing is I want to go home and make our Spartan alumni proud."
De La Salle head coach Justin Alumbaugh gets off the team bus Thursday in Mansfield, Texas.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Anthony Sweeney gets a post-practice interview.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
