The Levi’s Stadium scoreboard reflects De La Salle’s dominance just before halftime of its game against James Logan of Union City. Photo: Mark Tennis.
The very first high school game played at Levi’s Stadium will go into the state record book for most interceptions by one team in one game. The total is sure to get a laugh when 49er players training next door hear about it.
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California high school football games have been played at the Rose Bowl, Anaheim Stadium, the Los Angeles Memorial Stadium, the Oakland Coliseum, San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium and of course Mrs. Sorrell’s front yard in Death Valley.
On the weekend of Oct. 10-11, the brand spanking new Levi’s Stadium joined the list. It’s not the biggest stadium to ever host a California prep football game but it’s perhaps the most spectacular. It cost $1.3 billion and is in the heart of the Silicon Valley so what else would one expect?
In addition to Oakdale’s 42-21 win on Saturday over Manteca (see story here), there were three other games played at Levi’s over the weekend:
De La Salle (Concord) 51, James Logan (Union City) 7
When the Spartans first walked through the tunnel as Oakdale and Manteca were still playing, they were like little kids, snapping photos with their phones and twisting their heads to take in the enormity of the place.
Once they started playing, however, it was vintage De La Salle as the Spartans scored on every possession in the first half.
QB Anthony Sweeney looks for a play call as the shadows approach at Levi’s Stadium. Photo: Mark Tennis.
Senior quarterback Anthony Sweeney led the state’s No. 2 ranked team (7-0) with three TD passes. His first two – one to Adam Mayer from 17 yards out and the other to Chris Vanderklugt from 15 yards out – helped De La Salle take a 21-0 lead.
Just before halftime, the Spartans blew it open on a five-yard TD run by Je’Vari Anderson and a 67-yard TD run by Andrew Hernandez.
Hernandez, who also had a 28-yard TD run, finished with six carries for 116 yards. Sweeney went six of eight for 97 yards and had five carries for 60 yards. Neither of them played in the second half.
Logan scored its only TD against De La Salle’s second-string defense in the fourth quarter on a 50-yard TD pass from Rogelio Reyes to Sean Simpson.
Levi’s Stadium also has become the largest place in which the Spartans have ever played. It’s a seating capacity of 68,500 beats the seating capacity of 67,000 for CenturyLink Field in Seattle, where De La Salle played in 2004 and lost to Bellevue, Wash. The Spartans also have played at the Oakland Coliseum, of course, and at Anaheim Stadium but neither of those have ever been above 68,500.
Wilcox (Santa Clara) 67, Santa Clara 20
The first game ever played at Levi’s will actually go into the state record book. It’s not the historical aspect of the contest itself, but in Wilcox’s win on Friday afternoon the Chargers intercepted nine passes.
According to our own Cal-Hi Sports state record book, the first team to intercept nine passes in one game was Marysville against Roseville in a 31-6 win in 1967. That record was tied in 2000 by Paradise in a 45-0 win over Gridley.
Wilcox (4-1 with its only loss to Manteca) also got close to the state record for most interception return TDs in a game with four. The record is five, set first in 1944 by Etna and tied in 1978 by Tulelake. It’s unknown how many teams have had four but likely just a handful even including Milpitas, which had four on Friday night as well in a 49-0 win over Saratoga.
Tali Finefauiaki, just a sophomore, brought one back 85 yards for one of the pick sixes and had three interceptions in the game in all. Senior Manu Turituri also had three interceptions and ran back a pick 45 yards for a score.
Guess which team Wilcox plays next? Yep, it’s Milpitas. Given the penchant for the way those teams are at returning interceptions for scores, coaches should be advised not to pass.
Jesuit (Carmichael) 42, Elk Grove 38
Junior running back Beau Bisharat played like the MVP of his position at last spring’s Nike Football Training Camp in this win by the Marauders.
With the Marauders behind at 38-35 with just over five minutes left, Bisharat broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown to give his team the lead. Jesuit followed with an interception by linebacker Isaac Lessard and then picked up enough first downs so that Elk Grove never got another chance.
Bisharat had 20 carries for 178 yards and two TDs. He also caught five passes for 89 yards.
Eltoro Allen shined for Elk Grove. He scored on runs of 18 and 68 yards and returned a fumble 20 yards for another score.
Jesuit improved to 5-1 after its 63-0 loss to De La Salle in its first game. Elk Grove (4-2) lost for the second straight week following its 26-19 loss to Grant of Sacramento.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
