High School

Live score update recap: De La Salle high school football breezes past NFL Academy in London

Running backs Derrick Blanche Jr. and Dominic Kelley each rush for two touchdowns in a convincing 31-9 win over European All-Star squad.

Mitch Stephens

Derrick Blanche Jr. (22) finished with 12 carries, 182 yards rushing, including a 62-yard touchdown jaunt to finish off the scoring. De La Salle finished with 332 yards rushing and 408 overall in a 39-10 win over Serra on Sept. 6, 2024. For the first time in program history, the team traveled overseas on Oct. 3 and will play NFL Academy Tuesday in London.
Derrick Blanche Jr. (22) finished with 12 carries, 182 yards rushing, including a 62-yard touchdown jaunt to finish off the scoring. De La Salle finished with 332 yards rushing and 408 overall in a 39-10 win over Serra on Sept. 6, 2024. For the first time in program history, the team traveled overseas on Oct. 3 and will play NFL Academy Tuesday in London. / Photo: Dennis Lee

The De La Salle High School football program, which has accomplished just about everything in the game over the last 40 years, added one more crumpet.

The Spartans went to London as part of the NFL's brand to grow the game and defeated a European All-Star team 31-9 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The NFL Academy team was definitely equals in terms of athleticsm, speed and boy could they hit, but De La Salle's experience in the game and its precise veer offense, a challenge to stop in North American, was really no match for the Europeans.

Dominic Kelley and Derrick Blanch Jr., a pair of third-year starting running backs, each rushed for touchdowns and the defense, led by absolute menace Matt Johnson, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound Oregon commit, didn't allow a touchdown until the final play of the game, a wild one to be sure.

The victory, which counts towards De La Salle's record according to CIF Executive Director Ron Nocetti, is now 6-0.

"They were big and physical and as good as we saw on film," De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh told the NFL Academy UK & Ireland crew which streamed the game live (see below). "The sky is the limit (for the NFL program). We're a good team and it took a good team to take those guys out."

(Read all the scoring at bottom of page).

PREGAME

The De La Salle Spartans out of Concord (Calif.) has done about everything there is to accomplish in high school football, but playing out of the country was not one of them.

That all changes Tuesday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, where the Spartans will take on a NFL Academy team comprised of the best players in Europe. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. local time, 1 p.m. ET and 10 a.m. PT.

The game can be watched on a live stream here.

Part of the NFL’s expansion to grow the game, De La Salle (5-0) will play on the same field where the Minnesota Vikings defeated the New York Jets 23-17 on Tuesday.

The Spartans who have won a state-record seven California CIF crowns and upwards of 11 national mythical titles, have one of their best teams in years, led by a speedy brigade that set a school record in the 400-meter relay last spring.

Quarterback Toa Faavae, an Idaho commit, junior tailback Jaden Jefferson and receiver-defensive back Jayden Nicholas were a pair of that relay team and sophomore Duece Jones-Drew, son of former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew, an assistant coach on the team, was an alternate on that sprint team.

California football; De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
De La Salle senior Toa Faavae is a third-year starter and one of the fastest quarterbacks in California. He's rushed for a team-high seven touchdowns heading into Tuesday's game in London versus NFL Academy. Photo: Dennis Lee. /

The Spartans also feature college-bound players Matt Johnson (Oregon), a two-way lineman and running back Derrick Blanche Jr. (Portland State). Several others have college offers, including running back Dominic Kelley, and junior defensive tackle Myah Telona.

The NFL Academy is coached by former NFL assistant Steve Hagen and features a staff with numerous coaches with NFL experience. The roster consists of 69 players, 27 from the UK and 25 from England. They've played two games against U.S. high schools, losing both games,51-45 to Florida power EdgewaterAug. 15 in Loughborough, UK; and 35-20 to defending Ohio D2 champion Washington (Massillon) Aug. 22 at Nike Headquarters in Oregon. 

Despite the defeats, De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh warns this will be a big challenge. The game counts on the Spartans' record, according to CIF Executive Editor Ron Nocetti. "They have a bunch of big, strong, fast athletes, coached by a great staff with all the amenities,” Alumbaugh said. “So, yeah, it’s going to be a challenge. These guys really hit. A lot of them grew up playing rugby so they know how to tackle.”

 LIVE UPDATES: De La Salle vs. NFL Academy

(Refresh for the latest updates once the game starts; the most recent updates will be at the top.)

FOURTH QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN NFL ACADEMY! On the final play of the game, Michael Szabo threw one up for grabs from the 30-yard line. It was deflected into the hands of a De La Salle's defensive back who dropped the ball, which hit his foot, caromed up and was caught by Rafael Varona-Blakstad for a seen-to-be-believed touchdown. No extra point was tried. FINAL: De La Salle 31, NFL Academy 9

FIELD GOAL NFL ACADEMY! Liam Dineen with 31-yard field goal. 10:15 4Q. De La Salle 31, NFL Academy 3. A touchdown pass by Michael Szabo was wiped off board by a penalty.

SPORTSMANSHIP! Of all the things De La Salle is applauded for, all the winning, the movie, "When the Game Stands Tall," one that rarely gets talked about is a spectacular understanding of when the game is decided and putting in reserves. Letting the backups play. The team just traveled 5,000 mailes to play a historic game in London. With game well in hand, the reserves will play the entire fourth quarter, which they did on this last drive. Not just here, but they've done it every step over 40 years of dominance.

THIRD QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! Derrick Blanche Jr. with his second TD, a 1-yard run set up by a 50-yard completion from Toa Faavae to Jayden Nicholas. De La Salle 31, NFL Academy 0. 0:27 3Q.

SECOND QUARTER

END OF HALF: De La Salle 21, NFL Academy 0

TOUCHDOWN NULLIFIED! A 90-yard TD run by Dominic Kelley is called back by a holding call, 0:51 left until half.

FUMBLE NFL ACADEMY! The locals were driving beautifully down to the DLS 13, but a fumble is recovered by Jayden Nichols. DLS takes over at its own 8. 1:35 2Q.

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! Dominic Kelley 11-yard burst up middle for his second TD run. De La Salle 21, NFL Academy 0. 4:22 2Q. Probably not fair to ask young football players, as athletic as they are, to deal with the veer offense. NFL Academy hits hard and doesn't miss tackles. But the quick-hitting nature is tough to deal with.

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! Derrick Blanche Jr. blasts up the middle for 14-yard touchdown. He set up the score with a 22-yard screen reception. De La Salle 14, NFL Academy 0. 9:55 2Q.

FIRST QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE! Dominic Kelley breaks through gaping hole, 14-yard touchdown. 3:34 1Q. De La Salle 7, NFL Academy 0.

DE LA SALLE HOLDS, RECOVERS BAD PUNT SNAP! NFL Academy gets couple first downs to own 48, but punt snap mishandled, De La Salle takes over on NFL Academy 29.

NFL ACADEMY HOLDS! De La Salle drives to the Academy 25, but Europeans holds on downs.

Published |Modified
Mitch Stephens
MITCH STEPHENS

Mitch Stephens is a senior editor at SBLive Sports for California, a state he's covered high school sports since 1984. He won multiple CNPA and CPSWA writing awards with the Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle and MaxPreps.com before joining the SBLive staff in 2022. He's covered the beat nationally since 2007, profiling such athletes as Derrick Henry, Paige Bueckers, Patrick Mahomes, Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Chiney Ogwumike, Jeremy Lin and Najee Harris as preps. You can reach him at mitch@scorebooklive.com.

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