Sports

De La Salle High Football: Fans Ready For New Era

The Spartans kick off their 2013 season by taking on Clayton Valley Charter High before a packed house

More of the same.

That's what De La Salle High School football fans are expecting as the highly ranked Spartans kicked off their 2013 season Friday night.

De La Salle, last year's state champions, began a new era under new head coach Justin Alumbaugh before a full house at their home stadium.

The excitement level was its usual high decibel level.

The parking lot was full hours before the game and the residential streets surrounding the Concord high school were lined with cars before the game began.

Robert and Laura Cortez of Discovery Bay have been coming to Spartan football games for seven years now.

They arrived at 4 p.m. and watched the junior varsity game, so they could have front row seats near the 50-yard line.

The Cortezes didn't attend De La Salle nor do they have sons who attend. Their daughters have attended nearby Carondelet High. They started attending games when their daughter was a cheerleader at De La Salle and got hooked.

"We love watching the guys play and we love watching quality football," said Laura Cortez.

Robert Cortez said he expects De La Salle's winning tradition to continue even though long-time head coach Bob Ladouceur retired in January.

"I expect we'll see more of the same," he said.

De La Salle fans did. The Spartans defeated Clayton Valley Charter High, 34-14, to start the 2013 football season.



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