After giving national powerhouse Mater Dei a temporary scare in last year’s CIF Open Division state title game and with a number of players from that team returning, De La Salle gets the top spot in the Bay Area News Group’s rankings to open the 2025 season.

The Spartans’ returners include speedster Jaden Jefferson, Cal-bound lineman Nemyah Telona and running back Duece Jones-Drew, son of former NFL All-Pro Maurice Jones-Drew.

De La Salle will get the opportunity to prove it’s the region’s top dog with matchups against Lakeland-Florida, Serra, St. Francis, Grant-Sacramento, St. Mary’s-Stockton and Cathedral Catholic before league play starts. • Preseason coverage: League previews, all-area lists, more

Right behind the Spartans in the BANG rankings are the loaded Archbishop Riordan Cru

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