Prediction: De La Salle (Calif.) goes unbeaten until playoffs

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we our run through California’s top high school football programs with the 7-time state champion De La Salle Spartans. Many may remember the Spartans best for winning 151 games in a row, spanning from 1992 to 2004 and being at one point the perennial best team in the nation during that time. Now with other powerhouses sprouting up all over the California, the Spartans have remained amongst the state’s best but can they get back to the top this fall?

Player Spotlight: RB Deuce Jones-Drew

Last name look familiar? It should because the junior running back is the son of former NFL Pro Bowler Maurice Jones-Drew, who starred for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Playing running back runs in the family bloodline and now with three of the Spartans’ top four rushers from a year ago having graduated, Jones-Drew makes his way to the featured back position after playing admirably out of the backfield in 2024. Last season, as a sophomore Jones-Drew carried the rock 61 times for 447 yards and five touchdowns. As the likely primary ball carrier, those numbers should soar and closer to the 1,000-yard, 10-plus touchdown range this fall.

Others to watch: CB Jaden Jefferson, DL Nemyah Telona, TE Landon Cook, CB Jayden Nicholas

Season Prediction: 10-0

We can see this going the way of the Spartans all the way up to California’s Open Division state championship game. Yep, we really can. Now opening the season up against 9-time Florida state champion Lakeland Dreadnaughts will be no easy task, but we have the Spartans coming away with the dub. The opener is arguably the toughest game on the slate as you continue to move through the rest of the schedule. What becomes more foggy is forecasting what exactly happens come playoff time en route to the state title game. A rematch with both Pittsburg and Mater Dei seems inevitable, so those are the two games we try and predict. We say the Spartans we the former, but a replay of last year in losing the latter to the Monarchs in the end.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 29 – Lakeland (Fla.) Dreadnaughts – W
Starting off the season right with a win won’t be easy against an always state title contending Lakeland team out of Florida. We give De La Salle the edge in what should be a tightly contested game.

Sept. 5 – at Junipero Serra (Calif.) Padres – W
After a hard fought battle at home against Lakeland, De La Salle hits the road and defeats Junipero Serra by three scores.

Sept. 12 – at St. Francis (Calif.) Lancers – W
Last week began what will be a series of games on the road, with the Spartans continuing the trend of victories with another rout.

Sept. 19 – at St. Mary’s (Calif.) Rams – W
Road game No. 3 in a row turns into a 41-14 blowout of the Rams.

Sept. 26 – at El Cerrito (Calif.) Gauchos – W
De La Salle is at the midway point of the season and they’re humming on all cylinders as they cruise to another big victory, this time over El Cerrito.

Oct. 3 – at Cathedral Catholic (Calif.) Dons – W
Now the Dons pose a legitimate threat to De La Salle’s hot streak they’re on heading into the second half of the season. Jones-Drew goes off for 150-plus rushing yards in a 36-14 win.

Oct. 17 – Amador Valley (Calif.) Dons – W
Finally back at home, the Spartans take advantage in a 42-6 victory.

Oct. 24 – at San Ramon Valley (Calif.) Wolves – W
The road warriors continue their march to an undefeated season as De La Salle cruises in this one.

Oct. 30 – California (Calif.) Grizzlies – W
Spartans make it look easy in the second to last game of the season.

Nov. 7 – Clayton Valley (Calif.) Eagles – W
De La Salle finishes the regular season in front of the home faithful with a 42-6 rout of the Eagles.