The real De La Salle better than the movie in romp over Jesuit

An enthusiastic but sparse crowd at the University of California and national television audience got a glimpse Friday night why Hollywood came calling to De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) this summer. 

The live version of the Spartans' football team, however, was probably more impressive than that one portrayed in "When the Game Stands Tall" during a resounding season-opening 63-0 win over Jesuit (Carmichael, Calif.) at Memorial Stadium.

Neither movie distractions, shoddy sod, key injuries or one very big transfer bothered De La Salle's football machine as it  dominated from beginning to end against the Sac-Joaquin Section's No. 6-ranked team.

Jevari Anderson returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, then a blocked punt, quarterback sneak and touchdown pass later it was 21-0 midway through the first quarter and the Spartans were on their way.

"When I saw a lot of white jerseys in front, I said to myself 'I got to go,'" Anderson said.

And the Spartans (1-0), No. 11 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings, were just getting started.

Junior quarterback Chris Vanderklugt, thrown into the starting role due to a knee injury last week to starter Anthony Sweeney, relied heavily on DLS' special teams and defense to extend De La Salle's unbeaten streak against Northern California opponents to 251 games.

Cameron Lissarrague returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown, Anderson added a 7-yard touchdown burst up the middle after an Adam Mayer interception and 60-yard return and De La Salle led 35-0 at halftime.

De La Salle's defense, minus Northwestern-bound linebacker Simba Short (shoulder injury) and the nation's No. 2 recruit Kahlil McKenzie, who transferred in June, was supposed to win behind the team's offense, but that clearly wasn't the case.

The Spartans had four sacks by halftime and Jesuit, with numerous offense weapons in Marlon Blanton's veer attack, managed just 35 yards in 27 plays to that point.

Another Jesuit turnover on the first play of the second half set up a 12-yard touchdown around by Antoine Custer, making it 42-0 with 11:45 left in the third and a 57-yard touchdown burst up the middle by Nick Lopez made it 49-0 four minutes later. Lopez added a 65-yard touchdown later in the quarter.

Asked if the movie was a distraction or added extra pressure, Anderson said no.

"We weren't really worried about the movie, we were worried about our team," Anderson said. "We had two captains out and we were really playing for them." 

After Anderson's kickoff return down the left sideline, a blocked punt put the ball on the 1-yard line and Vanderklugt, De La Salle's starting JV quarterback last year, snuck it home, making it 14-0.

A long punt return set up a Vanderklugt 7-yard scoring pass over the middle to Sam Phillips and this one was essentially over with 4:20 left in the first quarter. The interception returns cemented things in front of an enthusiastic-at-first crowd at Cal that was left with little to cheer for.

The game was initially scheduled at Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, but moved to Cal after the sod at the new home of the 49ers needed extra work.

De La Salle, chomping at the bit to get on any field, clearly didn't mind.