De La Salle's Derek Thompson (62) holds up the first place plaque after defeating Folsom during the CIF NorCal Division 1-AA regional championship game at Folsom High School in Folsom, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. De La Salle defeats Folsom 17-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
FOLSOM — Folsom had just scored a touchdown to cut the margin to three points. The home fans were re-energized, knowing that a stop and another score could have sent their team to the Northern California 1-AA championship and into a state final next week.
De La Salle’s offense returned to the blue turf on a frigid night with 7:54 remaining.
Fifteen plays later, needing a little more than a yard to seal the victory, the Spartans ran behind an offensive lineman who gutted out four quarters Friday night despite an ailing knee that has plagued him all season.
Harvard-bound lineman Derek Thompson called the play during a timeout — something coach Justin Alumbaugh had only allowed a player do once previously — and Charles Greer plowed behind Thompson for the first down.
By maybe an inch, after a measurement.
On the next snap, quarterback Toa Faavae took a knee and the celebration was on.
One year after losing to Folsom in this same round, De La Salle held on to win 17-14. The Spartans will play Lincoln-San Diego for the 1-AA state championship in Mission Viejo next Friday.
When the clock struck zero, De La Salle players stormed the field. Some shed tears as a season filled with injuries and adversity — which included regular-season losses to Serra, Folsom and St. Mary’s-Stockton — will end with the Concord school aiming for its eighth state title.
“We had a little criticism and rather than fold or start bickering or getting divisions in the team, we came together more than ever,” Alumbaugh said as his players hoisted and kissed the trophy. “This is a really good group of young men. They have re-instilled a lot of our culture.
“Those seniors, especially. I told them last night in our team dinner that I am their No. 1 fan. I want them to do really well and I want them to see the success that I think they deserve. We got success tonight. I am happy to see those boys smiling.”
De La Salle (10-3) dominated defensively for nearly the entire game. But the Spartans trailed after Folsom knocked the ball free from Faavae and Greco Carrillo scooped it up and dashed 45 yards to the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 5:23 left in the first quarter.
The Spartans answered with a methodical 80-yard drive that ended with Derrick Blanche scoring from the 5 to even the score 7-7 early in the second quarter.
Folsom (12-2) had a great chance to reclaim the lead when Joseph Chavez intercepted a pass and returned it seven yards to the De La Salle 30.
The Spartans forced a 27-yard field goal try that sailed off target.
De La Salle then drove from its 20 to inside the Folsom 25. When the drive stalled, Spencer Brien kicked a 39-yard field goal to give the visitors a 10-7 lead with 1:42 left before halftime.
On the first snap of Folsom’s next series, Johnathan Guerrero intercepted Austin Mack’s pass and returned the ball 17 yards to the 3. After a false start infraction against De La Salle, Greer scored from the 6 to stretch the advantage to 17-7 at halftime.
“That was huge,” Alumbaugh said. “To be able to get those quick, easy points, so to speak, right before half, gave us a huge boost. A huge momentum change for us. Guerrero made an awesome play. He’s had a great year.”
The score did not change until the fourth quarter.
On a halfback option pass that might have moved De La Salle closer to clinching the outcome, Ayreon Smith intercepted the ball for Folsom.
Seventh-two yards from the end zone, Mack threw a 41-yard deep pass to Brian Ray III along the left sideline. On the next snap, the quarterback hit Carrillo on a crossing route for a 30-yard gain to the 1.
On the third play of the drive, Ryder Lyons took a direct snap and charged across the goal line to make it 17-14.
The crowd, subdued for much of the game, was back into it.
That is until De La Salle went on its game-ending drive that included two fourth-down plays converted after measurements, the last of which clinched the victory.
“It’s been a unique season,” Thompson said. “I was telling the guys during chapel yesterday, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. But it’s definitely an experience, our season. All the injuries. All the losses. But we bounced back when it mattered.”
Greer carried 10 times on the last possession, including both fourth-down conversions.
As the game ended and he walked toward the handshake line, the senior said, “Great time to be here. Great time. … It was kind of nerve-racking. But me being me, I knew I was going to get it.”
And the difference this time?
“We were the more physical team,” Greer said. “We came out with the intent to be more physical.”
