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De La Salle (Concord, CA) GENERAL Nickname: Spartans Colors: Green/White Coach: Bob Ladouceur League: East Bay (moving from Bay Valley) Section: North Coast Playoff Division: I Playoff Division Rank: #1 CA Bowl Division: North 1 (not yet official) CA Bowl Division Rank: #1 RETURNERS Returning Offensive Starters: 4 Returning Defensive Starters: 3 2007 JV Record: 9-1 Starting Quarterback Returning: yes Top Running Back Returning: no RATINGS 2007 Final Power Rating: 66.3 2007 National Rank: #2 2007 State Rank: #1 Off-Season Rating Adjustment: +2.5 2008 Starting Power Rating: 79 2008 National Rank: #2 2008 State Rank: #1 Dynasty Rating (Average 2003-2007 Rating): 58.4 Dynasty National Rank: #2 2008 Rating vs. Dynasty Rating Comparison: better by 6.2 Dynasty Record: 58-6-2 HISTORICAL 2007 Overall Record: 13-0 2007 Points For Average: 46.8 2007 Points Against Average: 11.5 2007 Differential: +35.3 2007 Wins: #13 Centennial (Corona) (37-31), #233 Serra [Junipero] (San Mateo) (40-22), #277 California (San Ramon) (37-0), #563 Mission Viejo (35-7), #563 Monte Vista (Danville) (50-15), #1267 Loyola (Los Angeles) (55-14), #1395 Pittsburg (49-14), #1913 Palma (Salinas) (55-0), #2362 Ygnacio Valley (Concord) (48-13), #2431 Berkeley (59-0), #2853 Heritage (Brentwood) (56-14), #3208 Freedom (Oakley) (45-14), #7443 Liberty (Brentwood) (42-6) 2007 Losses: none 2007 Opponents W-L: 86-60-2 Recent National Championships: 2003 Recent Section/State Championships: 2007 (4A East Bay), 2007 (Bowl I), 2006 (4A East Bay), 2005 (4A East Bay), 2004 (4A East Bay), 2003 (4A East Bay) Winning Streak Entering 2008 Season: none SCHEDULE 2008 Schedule: 9/13 at Serra [Junipero] (San Mateo), 9/20 vs Loyola (Los Angeles), 9/27 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ), 10/3 at Granada (Livermore), 10/10 Livermore, 10/24 at Amador Valley (Pleasanton), 10/31 Monte Vista (Danville), 11/6 at San Ramon Valley (Danville), 11/14 at California (San Ramon), 11/28 Deer Valley (Antioch), 12/5 Foothill (Pleasanton), 12/12 vs Pittsburg, 12/19 vs Centennial (Corona) Highest-Rated 2008 Regular Season Opponents: Centennial (Corona) (61.4), Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) (56.7), Serra [Junipero] (San Mateo) (45.4) Lowest-Rated 2008 Regular Season Opponents: Livermore (15.6), Granada (Livermore) (19.2), Deer Valley (Antioch) (25.5) 2007 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 22.9 (34.6 overall) 2008 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 34.9 2008 vs. 2007 Schedule Strength Comparison: +12 2008 Projected Regular Season Record: 13-1 2008 Projected League Finish: 1st 2008 Undefeated Regular Season Probability: 24% Opener: 9/13 at Serra [Junipero] (San Mateo) [projection: 31-20 win] Outlook: Perennial national powerhouse and defending California Division I Champion De La Salle Spartans return seven starters this year. Blake Wayne, 2007 co-quarterback, returns to lead the Spartan offense. Although not 2007's top running back, Kylan Butler will fill Pica's shoes just fine. Butler is a nationally ranked DI recruit who has just committed to Arizona. Other players to watch include Noah Perio FS/WR, DI Recruit prospect Blair Wishom WR/OLB and Drew White CB. Fans of the Spartans may be disappointed that Nick Montana has transferred to Oaks Christian for the start of his varsity play instead of staying with De La Salle. However, the coaching staff thinks their team has a lot of offensive talent and speed. Also, the defensive secondary should be strong. But the Spartans will be working to compensate for inexperience among the offensive and defensive lines. As of this writing, the inside linebacker position is a question mark. "[The Spartans] do not have the experience of the lines like last year, [but] they could be as good as or better offensively than last year," said assistant Coach Terry Eidson. "Defense will be the key to our season, as we need to replace a very good defensive line and Brady Amack--our three year starter at linebacker." Amack was last year's top tackler too. The Spartans move to the stout North Coast Section East Bay league for stiffer competition. Additionally, they host nationally ranked Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ). Don Bosco Prep is New Jersey's defending Non-Public Division IV champion who also competes with perennial national powerhouse St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH) this year. De La Salle will start the season as NorCal's favored three-peater for California's Division I championship game.