Will San Ramon Valley's 'greatest" quarterback Luke Baker lead Wolves to historic win over De La Salle?

One coach compares the 5-foot 11 senior to a prep Drew Brees; Wolves trying to end a 32-year, 265-game North Coast Section unbeaten streak

The numbers are astronomical. Almost too big and long to believe. 

De La Salle's football team hasn't lost to a North Coast Section opponent since 1991 — a span of 32 years and 265 games (264-0-1). 

The Spartans' last defeat was the 1991 NCS 3A title game 35-27 to Pittsburg at the Oakland Coliseum. 

Many people think that streak will be threatened Friday night, when De La Salle (4-2) travels to San Ramon Valley (6-0) and the incredible Baker boys. 

It's actually just one Baker boy — senior quarterback Luke Baker — but between his talent, confidence and leadership, these Wolves are sort of his team. 

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His coach Aaron Becker doesn’t mince words or deflect comparisons.

“Luke (Baker) is the best quarterback I’ve ever coached,” he said.

San Ramon Valley senior quarterback Luke Baker (2) plays the game sometime like he's playing "a video game," said his coach.  / Photo: Dennis Lee

Considering Becker, in his 11th season, coached Baker’s older brothers Zack (2014) and Clark (2016 and 2017), that might cause a little stir in the family tree.'

“Nah,” Becker says. “Both of the older brothers were really good, but each told me (Luke) was going to be better.” 

Becker says Luke Baker even surpasses the program’s other premier quarterbacks since the turn of the century — Sam Keller (class of 2003), Corbin Louks (2007) and Joe Southwick (2009) — all of whom played professionally. 

Becker coached all either on junior varsity or when he was the varsity’s offensive coordinator. He also coached SRV graduates Zach Kline (2012, Cal, Fresno State) and Cameron Birse (2013, Murray State).

That’s quite a lineage. 

A prep Drew Brees

Yet, considering what Baker did last season — leading the North Coast Section in passing yards (3,733) and passing touchdowns (46) while guiding the Wolves to a Northern California Division 2-A title — and what he’s done through six games this season, rates him at the top.

Baker, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior, has completed 110 of 163 for 1,845 yards and 22 touchdowns (just two interceptions). He's also rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns. 

Luke Baker on the run in last season's CIF Division 2-AA title loss to Granite Hills at Saddleback College.  / Photo: Todd Shurtleff

And football might not be his best sport: He’s already secured a baseball scholarship to play at Santa Clara.

“His ability to process information on the field is unlike any high school quarterback I’ve ever seen,” said Becker, who played the position for the Wolves in the 1990s. “At times it’s like he’s playing a video game.”

But Baker is not mechanical or robotic. To the contrary, what Becker loves most about Baker is his makeup. McClymonds coach Michael Peters, the father of NFL cornerback Marcus Peters, noted it the last two seasons facing the Wolves. 

In those two games against McClymonds, Baker completed 56 of 85 for 723 yards and eight touchdowns. Peters called him a prep version of Drew Brees.  

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“He’s a great leader,” Becker said. “He demands excellence from his teammates while exercising extreme humility and holding himself accountable to the same standards.

“I’ve never seen a kid that has the entire belief of the team behind him the way he does. It’s wild.”

That belief has spread throughout the campus, Becker said, and may be why the Wolves are 18-3 over the last season-plus and why they may well give De La Salle a serious tussle. 

“It’s like living a movie in Danville with him right now,” Becker said. 

Old-school approach: winning

Said De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh: “Baker is incredible. I honestly don’t know why colleges aren’t after him. The biggest key with him is the same with any great quarterback by keeping receivers covered and making him uncomfortable in the pocket.” 

De La Salle wasn't doing that earlier in the season. The Spartans lost their first two games by wide margins, but to state ranked teams, Orange Lutheran (35-14) and Serra (28-0). Orange Lutheran is ranked No. 15 in the state, according to SBLive Sports, and Serra is No. 3. De La Salle is No. 19 and San Ramon Valley No. 25. 

The Spartans have rebounded by going back to their old-school habits, grinding out the clock with tough inside running, led by juniors, quarterback Toa Faavae (50 carries, 312 yards, seven touchdowns), and running backs Dominic Kelley (99, 500, five) and Derrick Blanche Jr. (52, 291, 2).

Derrick Blanche Jr. rushed for a touchdown in a 14-7 win over Folsom / Photo: Dennis Lee

After throwing 40 passes in the two defeats (on 15 completions), the fleet Faavae (a 10.90 100-meter sprinter) has thrown just 23 passes combined in the four wins.

In a 14-7 win over another state-ranked team Folsom on Sept. 22, De La Salle had the ball nearly twice as long as the Bulldogs (31 minutes, 52 seconds to 16:08).

Add in a tough, hard-hitting defense led by linebacker Drew Cunningham and linemen Matthew Johnson and Chris Biller, and the Spartans actually resemble the teams that have won 31 straight NCS titles and own the national win streak record of 151 games, from 1992 to 2004.

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“We have to tackle well and hold the line of scrimmage as best as possible,” Becker said. “We need to protect the football and the passer and need to score touchdowns when we get into the red zone.”

Protecting “the franchise,” will indeed be key for the Wolves, who have dominated five Metro ranked teams by a combined score of 267-68. But they've lost 17 straight since 2004 to the Spartans and all but a couple have been blowouts, including the last five by scores of 48-14, 49-6, 52-0, 48-14 and 49-14. 

Alabama calling

In 2016, the Wolves in all reality should have won, losing 28-27, on a missed two-point conversion try late. 

“The players know a little (about De La Salle’s history),” Becker said. “We’ve just talked about not getting caught up in the past and trying to play the team that is presently in front of us on Friday nights.”

Alumbaugh knows these Wolves are the real deal, especially with 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior Marco Jones making his mark on both sides of the ball. He averages 13 tackles a game from his linebacker spot and is rated the 13th best junior recruit in California, according to 247Sports. 

He has 20 reported offers, including Alabama, Oklahoma, USC, Cal and Stanford.

“There’s a clear reason why Jones is such a high recruit,” Alumbaugh said. “He’s long, athletic and aggressive. He seems to be all over the field.”

Said Becker: “Marco is one of the best overall football players I have ever coached. He is big, fast and physical with an uncanny sense of making a big play in the big moments, especially on defense. He is an absolute weapon on both sides of the ball.”.

Alumbaugh sees the Wolves as an absolute threat because of Baker, Jones and their great balance. 

“They are very sound across the board and very well coached,” Alumbaugh said. “Obviously their offense stands out scoring all those points, but their defense is very good as well.”