DUBLIN, CA - Senior running backs Kairee Robinson and Jonathan Hackett led the way for the De La Salle offense, finishing with a combined 317 yards rushing and three touchdowns to help lift De La Salle (11-1) to a 42-7 victory over Freedom (11-1) for the North Coast Section Open Division title.
"I'm extremely proud of my teammates and coaches for how hard we worked for this win," said Robinson, after the Spartans secured their 25th straight section title.
The De La Salle offense started fast, scoring four first-half touchdowns, including a three yard run by Hackett with 32 seconds left in the second quarter to cap off a 51-yard drive and give the Spartans a commanding 28-7 lead heading into halftime.
"I was just following my blocks and running my heart out," said Hackett.
Senior quarterback Abel Ordaz had a quiet game passing the ball, but did score two rushing touchdowns, including a one-yard touchdown run with 11:41 in the fourth quarter to cap off a 36-yard drive and give De La Salle a commanding 35-7 lead to seal the deal for the Spartans.
Freedom's offense struggled to get anything going in the run game, as standout running back Ronnie Rivers only finished with two yards rushing. However, quarterback Jonathen Pierce did throw for 218 yards and a touchdown to receiver Baylei Coston, who finished with 113 yards receiving.
Coston scored with 5:23 left in the first quarter to give Freedom its only touchdown of the game, and briefly tied the game at seven before the Spartans responded with 35 unanswered points.
"I thought our defense played really, really well," said De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh. "Especially for how explosive their offense is."
De La Salle will now likely be headed back to the CIF Open Division title game, while Freedom will likely face the winner of Saturday night's St. Mary's-Stockton versus Folsom game in a Northern California regional game next weekend.
