Five things we have learned from Spartans’ first practice
CONCORD » The De La Salle football field was undergoing maintenance Monday, so the team had to set up shop on a patch of grass behind the home bleachers.
It was the first day of fall practice for Northern California’s top high school football program, the start of a three-week sprint before its season opens on Aug. 27 at St. Mary’s of Stockton.
Less than four months ago, De La Salle completed a 6-0 spring schedule that was all about the seniors who had lost so much to the COVID-19 pandemic during the school year, players such as quarterback Dorian Hale and defensive back/return specialist LuMagia Hearns.
Those guys are now in college, replaced by a new crop of leaders.
“It’s a good group,” coach Justin Alumbaugh said. “They’re working pretty well. We have the potential to be a good team. It’s up to them how hard they want to work. It’s an old cliche, but we’ve got to see who wants to hit. We’ve got to see who really wants to work when we get into pads and get into everything.”
Here are five things we learned at the team’s first practice:
THE NEW QUARTERBACK IS ...
Senior Luke Dermon takes over after Hale, although sophomore Carson Su’esu’e will compete for playing time.
Dermon was projected to be the starter last spring when it looked as if Hale wasn’t going to play. Hale changed his mind at the last minute, but Dermon still got backup snaps during the abbreviated season.
“Dermon is getting the reps as the starter,” Alumbaugh said. “But Carson is getting a lot, too.”
Dermon, who plans to play lacrosse at High Point University in North Carolina when he moves on to college, has impressed teammates with his all-around game.
“He’s a special guy,” said defensive back Zeke Berry, an Arizona commit. “He can pretty much do anything. He can run with the ball. He has a good arm. I have faith in this quarterback, Luke Dermon. He’s my guy.”
WHO’S GOING TO RUN THE BALL?
Given that De La Salle’s veer offense is dominated by the run, the coaches will spend fall camp determining who will replace Nico Torrez and Mekhi Norfleet in the backfield.
Alumbaugh said five players are in the mix — seniors Damonie Perkins, Zeke Barber, AJ Bianchina and Berry and junior Charles Greer. Perkins started as a linebacker in the spring. Berry has been primarily a receiver when he has played offense.
“We have to find out who’s going to be our top runners,” Alumbaugh said.
POWERFUL TIGHT ENDS
Not many high school teams can tout a pair of tight ends like De La Salle’s. Combined, they bring nearly 500 pounds of bulk to the field.
Senior Brodie Tagaloa (6-foot4, 260 pounds) is a three-star prospect, according to 247Sports, with seven Power 5 offers. Junior Cooper Flanagan (6-5, 228) is a four-star prospect with 12 Power 5 offers, per 247Sports.
“That doesn’t hurt,” Alumbaugh said.
HOW’S THE DEFENSE?
We posed that question to Berry. Here is what he said:
“I really like our defense,” he said. “Our secondary is really nice and our line is special, too. I think our defense is going to be the heart of our team.”
Journey McKoy, Briant Meredith and Berry are returning starters in the secondary. Perkins
and Amarion Houston provide linebacker experience, as do JJ Tofaeono and Tyler Henry on the defensive line.
“We’ll see how those guys kind of pan out,” Alumbaugh said. “The secondary, we have a lot more experience coming back. We rotate so many linemen. We had a lot of guys who played a lot. That’ll kind of shake out as we go.”
IS IT BACK TO NORMAL?
Yes and no. DLS had a normal summer program and, like other teams in the area, is required to wear masks only while indoors.
The Spartans are hoping that they get to play all 10 games on their regular-season schedule, one that includes an ESPN home game against national power St. Frances Academy of Baltimore on Oct. 1 and a home game against Cathedral Catholic of San Diego on Sept. 17.
The team is also excited about spectators returning to games, something that was not permitted in the spring.
“We’re hoping to get kids out here watching,” Alumbaugh said. “It’s been a long time since those guys got to do something pretty normal. It’d be nice to have them back at the game. We’re back at school. Why not be outdoors?”