De La Salle Puts New Spin on Win

This was not the buttoned-down, conservative Concord De La Salle High team recognized as much for its discipline as its national-record winning streak.

That much became clear on the Spartans’ opening drive, when running back Maurice Drew took a screen pass, broke a tackle and flipped into the end zone, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

De La Salle composed itself afterward, but the unusually spirited play set the tone in a 29-15 victory over Long Beach Poly Saturday night in a matchup of the nation’s top two teams before an overflow crowd of 17,321 at Long Beach Veterans Stadium.

Drew scored all four touchdowns for the Spartans (4-0), who extended their winning streak to 117 games. De La Salle came into the game ranked No. 1 by Student Sports and No. 2 by USA Today, but will now be No. 1 in both polls.

The Jackrabbits (3-1), ranked No. 1 by USA Today and No. 2 by Student Sports, hadn’t lost since a 33-26 defeat to Santa Ana Mater Dei in the Southern Section Division I title game in December 1998.

De La Salle clinched the game with 6 minutes 57 seconds remaining when Drew bolted through the line of scrimmage and cut to his right for a 22-yard touchdown to make it 27-15. Spartan quarterback Matt Gutierrez connected with Alijah Bradley in the end zone on the two-point conversion.

Poly had a first and goal on its next possession after running back Hershel Dennis ran 33 yards to the De La Salle 10-yard line. But Tyrone Jenkins was wrapped up at the 4 after catching a short pass and the Jackrabbits turned the ball over on downs.

It was the third time in the second half that Poly failed to convert a fourth down.

De La Salle fans chanted “Beat LA! Beat LA!” as the clock wound down.

The Spartans, who never trailed, took a 21-15 halftime lead thanks to Drew’s first three touchdowns, two receiving and one rushing. Drew scored on De La Salle’s opening possession after taking a screen pass, breaking a tackle and flipping into the end zone, drawing the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. James Bloomsburgh converted a 35-yard PAT.

Poly responded midway through the first quarter on Jeff Hasting’s 42-yard field goal to make it 7-3 as the teams traded scores the rest of the first half.

The Spartans struck next when Gutierrez hooked up with Drew along a sideline for a 29-yard touchdown connection and a 14-3 lead.

The Jackrabbits pulled to within 14-9 after Brandon Brooks bulled ahead for a one-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Hasting’s PAT attempt was blocked by a swarm of defenders.

De La Salle then swung the momentum back in its favor when Drew broke a tackle and ran straight ahead for a 17-yard touchdown to make it 21-9.

But Poly came back with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that ended when Brooks called an audible at the line of scrimmage and found tight end Marcedes Lewis over the middle at the Spartan 7-yard line. Lewis put a move on a defender, who had slipped, and waltzed into the end zone on the 12-yard touchdown.

“It’s Marcedes one-on-one,” Brooks said. “No one can stick with him.”

The Jackrabbits were penalized for excessive celebration on the score, though, and Hasting missed the 35-yard PAT attempt, keeping the score at 21-15.

Poly had a chance for one more score before halftime when the Spartans fumbled the kickoff and Tyrone Jenkins recovered at the De La Salle 45 with 12 seconds left. But Brooks was sacked and threw two consecutive incompletions as time expired.

De La Salle has not lost since a 35-21 defeat to Pittsburg in the North Coast Section championship game on Dec. 4, 1991.

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Still Streaking

Concord De La Salle’s 29-15 victory over Long Beach Poly extended a record winning streak that far outstrips the next longest efforts:

NATIONAL

117 Concord De La Salle 1992-2001

72 Hudson (Mich.) 1968-75

71 Jefferson City (Mo.) 1958-65

69 Animus (N.M.) 1987-90

64 Pittsfield (Ill.) 1966-73

64 Picayune (Miss.) G.W. Carver 1958-65

Source: National Federation of State High School Assns.

*

STATE

117 Concord De La Salle 1992-2001

47 Santa Rosa Cardinal Newman 1972-77

46 St. Helena 1960-65

46 Temple City 1969-73

46 Canyon Country Canyon 1983-86

46 Hilmar 1986-90

Source: Cal-Hi Sports