Live score updates: De La Salle beats Grant Union in California CIF high school football showdown

First meeting between two Northern California super powers could have CIF State Bowl Game ramifications in August

De La Salle running back Duece Jones-Drew breaks into the open while scoring on a 64-yard touchdown run. / Photo by Dennis Lee

CONCORD, CALIFORNIA — It's not even September but one of the bigger high school football games of the 2024 season may play out at De La Salle's Owen Owens Field on Friday night. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

The Spartans, making their season opener, take on Sacramento powerhouse Grant Union in the first meeting between the schools.

De La Salle is ranked ninth in the state by SBLive, while Grant (1-0) is No. 13. The Pacers, who a state CIF 3-AA championship in 2022 and lost in the state 2-AA title game last year, opened its season last week with a 28-7 win over Edison-Stockton behind 181 yards rushing and three touchdowns from Brandon Lambert.

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De La Salle also lost in the state finals last season, a 27-14 decision to Mission Viejo in the Division 1-AA championship. The Spartans have a boatload of returners, led by a trio of third-year starters in their backfield with Toa Faavae and running backs Dominic Kelley and Derrick Blanche Jr. Matt Johnson, a four-star defensive linemen headed to Oregon, leads De La Salle's defense.

Grant, which also returners QB Luke Alexander (3,105 passing yards, 43 TDs in 2023), "is really good — big, physical and fast. They are as advertised," said De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh. De La Salle has won a state best seven state titles, but its looking for its first since 2015, losing six straight state-title games.

Grant Union QB Luke Alexander during 21-19 2023 CIF State D2-AA loss to La Serna. Alexander threw for 43 touchdowns in 2023 and is one of the top QBs to watch in the SJS in 2024. / Photo: Joe Bergman

Check back her for live updates throughout the night. You can also watch the game live on NFHS.

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4TH QUARTER UPDATES

FINAL SCORE: De La Salle 42, Grant Union 14

TOUCHDOWN GRANT UNION! Zo Edwards scores on 28-yard reception with 14 seconds left to make it 42-14.

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! Derrick Blanche Jr. scores on a 14-yard touchdown run to give De La Salle a 42-7 lead with 7:55 left in the game.

Derrick Blanche Jr with 14-yard TD sweep. We got running clock folks. De La Salle 42, Grant 7. 7:55 4Q. pic.twitter.com/nxpSn34g5d

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) August 31, 2024

3RD QUARTER UPDATES

END OF 3RD QUARTER: De La Salle 35, Grant Union 7

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! Sprinter Jaden Jefferson scores on a 30-yard touchdown run around right end to give De La Salle a 35-7 lead with 3:31 left in the third quarter.

Jaden Jefferson, a 10.50 100-meter sprinter puts on afterburners with 30-yard touchdown. De La Salle 35, Grant 7. 3:31 3Q. Good answer by Spartans after Grant TD. pic.twitter.com/HPmIU8vG0Q

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) August 31, 2024

TOUCHDOWN GRANT UNION! QB Luke Alexander connects with Sosaia Noa on a 9-yard TD pass to cut De La Salle's lead to 28-7 with 7:56 left in the third quarter.

Sosaia Noa tough 9-yard TD catch and run from Alexander cuts DLS lead to 28-7. 7:56 3Q. pic.twitter.com/MbXK0uvYi8

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) August 31, 2024

Grant Union will have the ball to start the second half.

2ND QUARTER UPDATES

HALFTIME SCORE: De La Salle 28, Grant Union 0

FUMBLE RECOVERY FOR TOUCHDOWN! In one of the craziest plays you will ever see, De La Salle's Ant Dean rips the ball out of Grant Union QB Luke Alexander's arms - while Alexander is running - and returns it 33 yards for a touchdown. De La Salle leads 28-0 with 38 second left in the first half.

Ultimate takeaway. Literally. De La Salle’s Ant Dean takes ball away from Luke Alexander QB from Grant giving DLS 28-0 lead. 38 seconds left in first half. Dean returned strip 33 yards for TD. pic.twitter.com/GrunyiFjA8

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) August 31, 2024

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! Toa Faavae scores again, this time on a 9-yard TD run to give De La Salle a 21-0 lead with 6:38 left in the first half.

Speedy Toa Faavae led De La Salle on to the field. Now he just scampered 9 yards on misdirection, his second TD of game. Then celebrates with student body! DLS 21, Grant 0. 6:38 2Q. pic.twitter.com/wy8gFnKgkB

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) August 31, 2024

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! QB Toa Faavae scrambles for 17 yards down to the goal line, then scores on a QB sneak to give De La Salle a 14-0 lead (Duece Jones-Drew converts the 2-point try). The scoring drive covered 80 yards in 9 plays.

After Toa Faavae scrambles for 17, he sneaks in for TD. 2-point run by Jones-Drew makes it 14-0 DLS. 11:21 2Q. Big student body for Spartans. pic.twitter.com/jJ7Q8OSSMw

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) August 31, 2024

1ST QUARTER UPDATES

END OF 1ST QUARTER: De La Salle 6, Grant Union 0

Big third down conversion for Spartans. End of 1Q: De La Salle 6, Grant 0. pic.twitter.com/tnMefyGOc1

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) August 31, 2024

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! Duece Jones-Drew busts loose on the third play of the game for a 64-yard touchdown run to give De La Salle an early 6-0 lead over Grant Union. PAT fails. 10:46 left in the first quarter.

PREGAME UPDATES

We're about five minutes away from kickoff at De La Salle High School.

This is a little different. New walk up for De La Salle Spartans before kickoff against Grant. pic.twitter.com/1BvHn4PIr8

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) August 31, 2024