De La Salle defeats San Ramon Valley, wins 31st straight NCS title: Live update summary

Toa Faavae sprints home with two fourth-quarter, 15-yard touchdown runs leads Spartans to a 17-7 Open Division title

In a fast-paced, yet methodical contest, it was speedy De La Salle quarterback Toa Faavae who ultimately decided it. 

The junior sprinter twice went naked bootleg to score on 15-yard runs in the fourth quarter to give the Spartans a tenacious 17-7 victory over San Ramon Valley Friday at Dublin High School in the North Coast Section Open Division title game. 

It was the 31st consecutive NCS title for De La Salle which haven't lost to a NCS opponents since the 1991 3A title game, a 35-27 score to Pittsburg at the Oakland Coliseum. 

Friday's win extended the Spartans' unbeaten streak against NCS opponents to 271 (270-0-1). 

De La Salle celebrates its 31st consecutive NCS title, this one after a 17-7 Open Division finals' win over San Ramon Valley at Dublin High School. 

Photo: Ethan Kassel

It was the second time De La Salle was taken to the hilt by a tough San Ramon Valley squad, though this one wasn't quite as dramatic. The Spartans needed overtime to defeat the Wolves 33-27 on Oct. 13. 

This game they trailed 7-3 heading into the fourth quarter and used long scoring drives — all on the ground — to go 93 and 65 yards, capped by Faavae, who ran a 10.90-second 100-meters last spring on the track team. 

He finished with 10 carries for 135 yards, while Derrick Blanche Jr. added 21 carries for 90 yards and Dominic Kelley (11, 57). After giving up nearly 400 total yards last time to dynamic SRV quarterback Luke Baker, the Spartans limited him to just 108 total yards. Sophomore defensive lineman Nemyah Telona had two sacks, Andrew Cunningham added an interception. 

Marco Jones, SRV's highly-touted junior linebacker, was all over the field again with an interception and a big-hit on a 5-yard tackle for loss. 

De La Salle (10-2) advances to the Northern California regional in two weeks, while San Ramon Valley (10-2) is still alive. The Wolves will play the winner of Friday's California vs. Pittsburg game for the Division 1 title next week. 

See all the play-by-play below. 

Stay with SBLive for live updates (featured below) once the game kicks off at 7 p.m. Pacific time Friday, Nov. 17, at Dublin High School.

You can also watch this game on the NFHS Network

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(Refresh for the latest updates after the game starts)

First quarter

- SAN RAMON VALLEY goes three-and-out, punt

- DE LA SALLE takes over at own 40. After one first down, QB Toa Faavae is intercepted by Dylan Deitsch at SRV 26.

- SAN RAMON VALLEY takes over at own 26. Wolves convert two third-down passes by Luke Baker. 1st-and-10 at the DLS 48. Sack by Wyatt Ferguson. Wolves 3-11 from own 48. ... Screen play goes for 5. Punt coming.

- DE LA SALLE takes over on own 30. Dominic Kelley goes for 25 yards, but on 4th-and-2 from SRV 35, Marco Jones with big stop on Kelley.

- SAN RAMON VALLEY takes over on own 35. END OF FIRST QUARTER 

Second quarter (no score)

- SRV at own 43. Baker is intercepted by Drew Cunningham on tipped pace. Take over at SRV 48.

- DLS takes over at SRV 48. After a penalty, Faavae goes for 15 yards, then on 4th down, sneaks for 5 years down to SRV 33. Faavae to Anthony Dean for 15 yards. Derrick Blanche 15-yard run. Penalty, first and goal at the SRV 6. A procedure and three short runs, gain a total of 2 yards. 4th down. Finn Sepic 21-yard FG. De La Salle 3, SRV 0. 4:31 2Q.

- SRV takes over at own 18. Garibaldri runs for 11. to own 37. Offside DLS. 1st-and-5 from 42. Baker runs for 11. Vierra for 10 down to DLS 38. Short screen goes to DLS 32. Timeout with 30 seconds left in the half. Baker to Evan Economos with 32-yard touchdown. 0:24 2Q. San Ramon Valley 7, De La Salle 3. 8 plays, 82 yards.

- DLS takes over at 30. Faavae scrambles for 49 yards, but runs out of bounds at the SRV 18 as time runs out on half. HALFTIME: San Ramon Valley 7, De La Salle 3.

- Total yards for first half: De La Salle 155, San Ramon Valley 115 (courtesy of Damin Esper). 

Third quarter (San Ramon Valley 7, De La Salle 3)

- DLS starts on own 25. Spartans run for one first down. But now 3-10 from the 25. On third down, Marco Jones with interception.

- SRV takes over at DLS 25. Three runs net six yards. 37-yard FG is plenty long, but wide right.

- DLS takes over on 20. DLS goes 3-and-out. Short punt.

- SRV takes over at is own 44. Bakers sacked, minus six yards. Bakers scrambles for 11. Third-and-down is short. SRV punts.

- DLS takes over at own 7. Kelley for 10 yards. On 3rd-and-1, Blanche goes for 8 yards to its own 37, first down. DLS overcomes hold, goes for another first down to the SRV 49. End of 3Q. San Ramon Valley 7, De La Salle 3. 

Fourth quarter (San Ramon Valley 7, De La Salle 3)

- DLS in middle of drive from SRV 47. 17-yard scamper by Blanche puts it on 30. Two runs by Kelley to the 15. Toa Faavae 15-yard touchdown sprint. Touchdown. 9:43 4Q. De La Salle 10, San Ramon Valley 7. 

- SRV from the 30. Short completion, penalty on DLS. SRV up to the DLS 46. On 4th-and-2, Baker escapes rush. But pass incomplete. DLS takes over. 

- DLS starts on own 46. Jones with huge hit and 4-yard loss. Three plays net 9 yards. 4th-and-1 from SRV 44. Blanche goes for 7 to SRV 37. Holding back to 47. Faavae for 15 to SRV 32. On 4th-and-3, Blanche goes for 4. 1st-and-10 to the 26. Time is running out. Less than 2 minues. Blanche with a 12-yard run. Another first down. SRV must call timeout. 1:37 4Q. Toa Faavae with 15-yard touchdown on naked bootleg. Puts it away. De La Salle 17, San Ramon Valley 7. 1:15 4Q. 

- Final: De La Salle 17, San Ramon Valley 7

PREGAME READING

1. NCS Open Division: No. 2 seed San Ramon Valley (10-1) vs. No. 1 De La Salle-Concord (9-2) at Dublin HS — If anything close to last month’s 33-27 overtime win for De La Salle, fans will be in for a treat. De La Salle’s remarkable 270-game NCS unbeaten streak (269-0-1) is on the line and with SRV QB Luke Baker calling signals, anything is possible. He’s thrown for 3,087 yards and 34 touchdowns and is the team's leading rusher (461 yards, 4 TDs). De La Salle finally got its offense rolling last week with 531 yards in an opening win over James Logan. The loser of this game is still alive and will face the winner of California at Pittsburg for next week’s Division 1 title.