California's delayed high school football season will open with a heavyweight matchup Jan. 8 when perennial national powers
De La Salle (Concord) and
St. John Bosco (Bellflower) meet. The two schools made if official Wednesday with defending national champion Bosco serving as the host.
De La Salle lost the 2019 California Interscholastic Federation Open Division title game to the Southern California power in December, 49-28, the third time since 2013 that the Braves beat the Spartans in three tries for a state crown. The others were in 2013 (20-14) and 2016 (56-13).
The game is slated for 7 p.m. presently but if the game is picked up by television, it could change.
California is one of 15 states that pushed its 2020 fall season to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, thus the two schools were looking to rework schedules. It will be the first time they have met in the regular season.
"We have a great relationship with Coach (Jason) Negro and the Bosco program so it made a lot of sense," De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said. "With COVID-19, there's really no guarantee anything will get locked down. If all goes according to plan, there is one guarantee — we're going to play a great football program."
De La Salle was originally scheduled to open 2020 in Texas at two-time defending Class 6A Division champion North Shore (Houston) in August. That game was canceled in June.
St. John Bosco tackle Maximus Gibbs is headed to USC.
File photo by Rick Rowell
"That was a big disappointment to the kids and the program," Alumbaugh said. "That was a game everyone was looking forward to starting our season. Now we have an equal challenge. What better what to get ready than a rematch of the state championship?"
In the original MaxPreps Top 25 preseason rankings released in June before states postponed their seasons, Bosco was ranked No. 3 nationally and De La Salle No. 17.
Bosco must replace 6-foot-5, 245-pound quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (now at Clemson) but returns many of the state's top senior recruits, including receiver
Beaux Collins (No. 8 state ranking, Clemson commit), linebacker
Ma'a Gaoteote (No. 14, USC), guard
Maximus Gibbs (No. 64, USC), cornerback
Kamren Blanton (No. 87, UNLV) and linebacker
Andrew Simpson (No. 91, Kentucky). Collins plans to graduate in December and enroll early to Clemson, so he could miss the game and season.
Sophomore
Pierce Clarkson and junior
Katin Houser, a transfer from Liberty (Henderson, Nev.), will attempt to take the place of Uiagalelei, the 2019 co-National Player of the Year, who accounted for 477 yards and five touchdowns in the win over De La Salle in December.
"I'm guessing they won't have a quarterback that is bigger than anyone on our roster like last year," Alumbaugh said. "But it's possible. Whoever they have in there will no doubt be special."
De La Salle, winners of 28 straight North Coast Section championships, returns third-year starting quarterback
Dorian Hale, receiver/cornerback
Lu Hearns, versatile junior
Zeke Barry and a strong group of linemen, led by
Brodie Tagaloa.
"I like our team," Alumbaugh said. "Hopefully we can get in the necessary work to put it all together."
Currently, the CIF has set up one weekend of games (April 17) after section championships to presumably play regional title games, but not for state championships. That would eliminate the possibility of De La Salle and Bosco playing later in the season.
"My understanding is the CIF is staying flexible and (an Open state championship game) is still a possibility," Alumbaugh said. "Obviously that's way down the road. Right now we just want to get down to Bosco and play this opener."
Bosco has been ranked in the top five nationally six times since 2013 while De La Salle won mythical national crowns in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Dorian Hale, De La Salle's third-year starting quarterback.
File photo by Dennis Lee
