San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
De La Salle, St. John Bosco set titlegame rematch in opener
If you can’t beat them at the end of the season, why not try an opener?
That’s what De La SalleConcord plans to do Jan. 8 at St. John BoscoBellflower ( Los Angeles County).
The national football powerhouses made the announcement Wednesday, about 10 months after they met for the state’s Open Division title, a 4928 St. John Bosco victory.
Bosco also upended the Spartans in 2013 ( 2014) and 2016 ( 5613).
California is one of 15 states to push fall sports to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to reworked schedules. It will be the first time the schools 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. “What better way to get ready for the season than a rematch of the state championship?” Much must happen for the game and season to take place.
The California Interscholastic Federation, the state’s governing body of prep sports, plans to jam three traditional seasons into a JanuaryJune window, but counties have to reopen and allow sports.
Bay Area teams have been cleared to work out ( with social distancing) since late spring. De La Salle is scheduled to get back in the weight room this coming week, pending county approval, but Alumbaugh isn’t holding his breath.
That’s why celebrating the Bosco matchup might be premature.
De La Salle was scheduled to open the season in August at twotime defending Texas 6AI champion North ShoreHouston. That game was canceled in June.
“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.
“The sad thing is we can’t predict a week from now, let alone Jan. 8,” Alumbaugh said. “We will have to be solving these problems with every passing week.”
If all gets cleared, the Spartans will play another juggernaut. Bosco, the 2019 MaxPreps national champion, lost 6foot5, 245pound quarterback DJ Uiagalelei ( Clemson) but returns more than two dozen players with FBS scholarship offers, including receiver Beaux Collins ( Clemson commit), linebacker Ma’a Gaoteote ( USC), guard Maximus Gibbs ( USC), cornerback Kamren Blanton ( UNLV) and linebacker Andrew Simpson ( Kentucky).
De La Salle, winner of 28 straight North Coast Section championships, returns thirdyear starting quarterback Dorian Hale, defensive back Lu Hearns ( Cal), versatile junior Zeke Barry and a strong group of linemen.
“I like our team,” Alumbaugh said. “Hopefully, we can get in the necessary work to put it all together.”
The weekend of April 1718 after the section championships has been reserved, presumably to play regional title games, not 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 ( a 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.”
Honors postponed: The 38th annual San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame ceremonies, which had been rescheduled for Oct. 17, have been postponed again — to May 15 — because of the pandemic. The Class of 2020 now will be honored in 2021 at the Patio Español ( 2850 Alemany Blvd.).
The 2020 class is: Ken Chelini ( Galileo), Martin Cole ( Polytechnic), Michael Fauss ( Balboa), Matt Gallegos ( Sacred Heart), Dave Kline ( Polytechnic), April McDowell ( Mission, McAteer), Michael Murphy ( Sacred Heart), Ralph Pujolar ( official, basketball) and Vince Tringali ( coach, St. Ignatius). For more information, contact Gary Bader at 4152608027.
Recruiting: MoreauHayward linebacker Kaleb ElarmsOrr committed to Cal, joining Ryan Lange ( Pittsburg offensive lineman), Jermaine Terry ( KennedyRichmond tight end), Hearns ( De La Salle) and Akili Calhoun ( LibertyBrentwood defensive end), who earlier pledged to the Bears. … Jaden Rashada, the nation’s No. 1rated dualthreat quarterback from the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports, has transferred for a second time since the spring, to Pittsburg. Rashada ( 6foot4, 180) played his freshman season at LibertyBrentwood then went to national power IMG Academy-Bradenton ( Fla.), where he trained for a couple of months before he and his family decided to be near home during the pandemic. The state’s fifthrated sophomore overall has six college offers, including Cal and Auburn. … Rashada will join best friend Rashid Williams, the state’s No. 7 sophomore recruit, at Pittsburg. Williams ( 62, 175 pounds) has six college offers, five from Pac12 schools, including Cal.