De La Salle edges University High to reach state football finals

If at first you don’t succeed.

For the third year in a row, De La Salle was faced with a tall task, facing two-time defending state champion University High in the playoffs. This time around, it was in the semifinals.

This time around, De La Salle would not be denied.

Ian Helmcke booted a 19-yard field goal as time expired to give the second-seeded Cavaliers a thrilling 17-14 victory over the third-seeded Cubs at Yulman Stadium.

In a back-and-forth, closely contested game, University High got on the board first when Derrick Graham scored on a 5-yard run to make it 7-0 with 8:58 to play in the opening drive of the game as the Cubs went 67 yards in eight plays.

De La Salle answered when Montrell Johnson broke free on a 67-yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7 with 5:31 to play in the opening quarter.

Johnson then gave De La Salle a 14-7 lead when he scored from 3 yards out in the second quarter, capping a 13-play, 65-yard drive, and it stayed that way until halftime.

It stayed that way until the fourth quarter when the Cavaliers were poised to lengthen the lead but Johnson fumbled and Josh Slaughter scooped it up and scored, returning it 88 yards for the tying touchdown to make it 14-14 with 5:30 remaining.

The Cavaliers remained poised and staged the game-winning drive, reaching the U-High 2-yard line before Helmcke settled the issue.

The Cavaliers dominated play up front, rushing for 309 yards, and dominated time of possession throughout. De La Salle intercepted a pair of Tanner Lawrence passes and held the Cubs to just 179 total yards.

“Our defense was on the field a long time,” University High coach Andy Martin said. “We fought hard, never gave up and fell just short.”

De La Salle coach Ryan Manale saw his team overcome the loss of starting quarterback Fisher Rojas prior to the start of the season and was without running back Byron Phillips most of the season but the Cavaliers perservered.

“I couldn’t be prouder for our kids,” Manale said. “We battled injuries and my offense and my offensive line came through tonight. It was a hard-fought, physical game but we pulled through.”

The Cavaliers will play No. 1 St. Thomas More at the home field of the Cougars Friday night at 7 p.m. for the championship. St. Thomas More easily dismissed fifth-seeded St. Louis Catholic 52-21.

“I wish we were playing the state championship in the (Mercedes-Benz) Superdome but it is what is with the split. We found a way to win.

The Cavaliers are in the state championship game for the second time in three years, having lost to U-High in the championship game in 2017.

“De La Salle is in the state final again,” Manale said with a broad smile.

FINAL
DLS 7 7 0 3 — 17
UHS 7 0 0 7 — 14