Robinson return uncertain for De La Salle

The task for De La Salle will be daunting enough even with a healthy team.

So you can imagine the relief Spartans coach Justin Alumbaugh felt when he learned that two of his three injured players should be available for No. 1 Mater Dei-Santa Ana in the Open Division state title game Dec. 16 in Sacramento.

As for the third injured player, leading rusher Kairee Robinson, he remains a possibility but the team won’t know for sure until next week, Alumbaugh noted on Wednesday.

Robinson missed De La Salle’s 24-7 win over Pittsburg last Saturday in the North Coast Section Open Division championship game because of an injured foot. He leads the Spartans with 1,051 yards and 10.9 yards per carry, but could be just as important in the Spartans’ secondary.

He has missed two games this season.

Alumbaugh described the injury as a hairline fracture in Robinson’s foot.

“He’s done this before,” the coach said. “He’s in a boot. There’s a small pin in there. There would be no extra damage if he plays. It’s mainly a comfort thing.”

While Robinson’s availability remains up in the air, backup running back and cornerback Shamar Garrett should be ready for Mater Dei. He suffered a mild foot sprain against Pitt.

Luke Freeman, the tight end-defensive lineman who has been out since the regular-season finale Nov. 3, is expected back, Alumbaugh said. He has been sidelined by an MCL sprain.

Burns out at Mitty

Archbishop Mitty offensive coordinator Sione Ta’ufo’ou was elevated to head football coach, replacing Keith Burns, the school announced in a news release.

The news release did not say why Burns was no longer the coach, and athletic director Brian Eagleson said he was not at liberty to discuss personnel decisions. Burns led the program the past three seasons and was the team’s defensive coordinator in 2014.

Mitty went 18-17 under Burns and reached the Central Coast Section playoffs in each of his three seasons, including the Open Division II final last year. But the Monarchs struggled against the upper half of the West Catholic Athletic League during his tenure, going a combined 0-11 against Serra, St. Francis and Valley Christian.

Ta’ufo’ou was the coach at Menlo-Atherton from 2010-14, finishing 30-28. In 2011, he took the Bears to a CCS final, losing to Serra 42-21, and was named Peninsula Athletic League coach of the year.

Girls volleyball

Archbishop Mitty (37-5) won its second consecutive CIF State Open Division title and its sixth state championship in a row with a shocking sweep of Mater Dei 2519, 25-18, 27-25.

“I don’t get amazed often,” Mitty coach Bret Almazan-Cezar said. “But I got amazed. They (Mater Dei) look like a Pac-12 team.”

Also winning a state championship was Presentation in Division IV. The Panthers surprised Rancho Bernardo in five sets 14-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-15, 15-13.