De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) vs. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Larry Allen Jr. will lead De La Salle into a rubber match against Centennial in California's most prestigious Bowl Game.
Photo by Anthony Brunsman
Fifth-ranked De La Salle (14-0) may have played its best game of the year last week, blasting previously undefeated Folsom, 49-15, to earn a seventh-consecutive bid to California's most significant state championship bowl game. (Two of its past appearances were against Centennial – a 37-31 win in 2007 and a 21-16 loss in 2008). The Spartans' defense, led by USC-bound linebacker
Michael Hutchings, clamped down on the powerful Folsom offense, holding the Bulldogs nearly 33 points below their season average. The Spartans have won 25 straight games and have captured state titles in three consecutive seasons.
Read Mitch Stephens' game previewNo. 15 Centennial earned its way into the Open Division state title game by knocking off nationally ranked teams in back-to-back weeks. The Huskies (14-1) edged Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 30-28, in the CIF-SS Inland Division final and got past Los Angeles City Section champ Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.), 41-34, in last weekend's Southern California Regional Bowl Game. They are undefeated since a 40-35 loss to St. Bonaventure (Ventura) on the opening weekend of the season. Centennial's high-powered offense that averages more than 50 points per game is guided by quarterback
Robert Webber. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior has 3,660 yards passing along with 720 yards rushing and 45 total touchdowns.
Mitch Stephens: De La Salle 28, Centennial 21
Jamie DeMoney: De La Salle 28, Centennial 21
Stephen Spiewak: Centennial 27, De La Salle 21
Leland Gordon: De La Salle 29, Centennial 28
Kevin Askeland: De La Salle 49, Centennial 14
Steve Montoya: De La Salle 28, Centennial 14
