De La Salle highlights high school football schedules stepping back on National stage in season opener vs. Florida powerhouse
CONCORD, CA (Aug. 19, 2025) — De La Salle looked to have a shot at ending the stranglehold Southern California powers Mater Dei and Saint John Bosco have had on the CIF State Open Division football championships last December when the unbeaten Spartans rallied in the third quarter within one score of Mater Dei in the final bowl game of the 2024 season.
It was not to be when Mater Dei pulled away in the fourth quarter, but coach Justin Alumbaugh has a strong squad ranked No. 1 in NorCal in pre-season polls hoping to get another crack at a Southern California power in this year’s Open Bowl game. Starting his 13th season in charge, Alumbaugh is hoping it will be a lucky one as his team faces another daunting non-league slate of games.
The 32-time defending North Coast Section champions host Lakeland of Florida on Aug. 29 in its season opener. The Dreadnaughts won back-to-back Florida state titles in 2022 and 2023. Last season, they lost the 5A championship game to St. Thomas Aquinas, finishing 13-1 and No. 30 in the national rankings. The Spartans ended 22nd nationally.
In this season’s pre-season national poll DLS is 29th and Lakeland 49th.
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State 100-meter champion Jaden Jefferson highlights a roster Alumbaugh calls his fastest ever. Junior runningback Deuce Jones-Drew will carry a lot of the rushing duties while Cal-bound offensive and defensive lineman Nemyah Telona will be the centerpiece upfront.
De La Salle was the only one of five local teams to win a game in last fall’s NCS football playoffs.
Clayton Valley Charter (Division 1/Open), Northgate (D-III, College Park (D-IV) and Mt. Diablo (D-V) each fell at the first hurdle of post-season play.
2025 High School Football
Clayton Valley Charter (Open Div./Div. 1) – 8/29 at Spanish Springs-Sparks, NV, 9/5 College Park, 9/12 San Ramon Valley, 9/19 at Northgate, 9/26 Liberty-Brentwood, 10/10 Las Lomas, 10/17 Miramonte, 10/24 @ Campolindo, 10/31 @ Acalanes, 11/7 at De La Salle.
College Park (Div. 2) – 8/29 Dougherty Valley, 9/5 at Clayton Valley Charter, 9/13 at Salesian College Prep-Richmond, 9/19 Acalanes, 9/26 Monte Vista, 10/3 Miramonte, 10/17 at Alhambra-Martinez, 10/24 Northgate, 10/31 at Benicia, 11/7 at DAL Mountain TBA.
Concord (Div. 5) – 8/29 at Newark Memorial-Newark, 9/5 at Alameda, 9/12 San Lorenzo, 9/19 at Irvington-Fremont, 9/26 Mt. Eden-Hayward, 10/3 at Encinal-Alameda, 10/17 Mt. Diablo, 10/24 at Ygnacio Valley, 10/31 at Berean Christian, 11/7 DAL Valley TBA.
De La Salle (Div. 1/Open) – 8/29 Lakeland-Florida, 9/6 @ Serra-San Mateo, 9/12 Saint Francis- Mountain View, 9/19 at Grant-Sacramento, 9/26 St. Mary’s-Stockton, 10/3 Cathedral Catholic-San Diego, 10/17 @ Amador Valley-Pleasanton, 10/24 at San Ramon Valley, 10/30 California-San Ramon, 11/7 Clayton Valley Charter.
Mt. Diablo (Div. 4) – 8/29 Terra Linda-San Rafael, 9/5 Vallejo, 9/12 Hillsdale-San Mateo, 9/19 Alameda, 9/26 Acalanes, 10/3 McClymonds-Oakland, 10/17 @ Concord, 10/25 @ Berean Christian, 10/31 Ygnacio Valley, 11/7 DAL Valley TBA.
Northgate (Div. 3) – 8/30 at Tamalpais-Mill Valley, 9/5 Campolindo, 9/12 Archie Williams-San Anselmo, 9/19 Clayton Valley Charter, 9/26 Menlo School-Atherton, 10/3 at Las Lomas, 10/17 at Benicia, 10/24 at College Park, 10/31 Alhambra, 11/7 at DAL Mountain TBA.
Ygnacio Valley (Div. 5) – 8/30 at Redwood Christian-San Lorenzo, 9/5 Hercules, 9/12 at Freedom-Oakley, 9/19 at San Lorenzo, 9/26 at Stuart Hall-San Francisco, 10/3 Salesian College Prep-Richmond, 10/17 Berean Christian, 10/24 Concord, 10/31 at Mt. Diablo, 11/7 DAL Valley TBA.
Jay Bedecarré
Jay Bedecarré is a long-time resident and writer in Concord and Clayton. He began his newspaper writing career while still a senior at Mt. Diablo High School and he has been part of The Pioneer since its inception in 2003. Jay also operates Bay Area Festivals, presenting events around the San Francisco Bay Area including Bay Area KidFest annually in Downtown Concord.