Antioch, De La Salle coaches relish TV game

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Antioch head coach John Lucido vividly recalls the last time his Panthers played De La Salle-Concord. They lost 62-0 at home in 2006.

“I was the defensive coordinator then,” he said. “So, that was a lot of fun.”

Lucido can largely erase that memory at 8 p.m. Friday — in front of a national-television ESPNU audience — when the ninth-ranked Panthers (3-1) visit the top-ranked Spartans (3-1) at Owen Owens Field.

De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh hopes to wipe out more recent history, a stinging 23-21 home loss last week to East (Salt Lake City) when the Spartans fumbled twice in the red zone and gave up more than 500 yards.

It was the team’s first loss at Owen Owens since 2008, but seventh in the past 10 games against out-of-state foes. The Spartans hope to avoid their first losing streak on their home field since 2004.

Even that 2004 team, which finished 8-3-2 and had the program’s national-record 151-game win streak snapped, didn’t allow a combined 977 yards in two consecutive games as the 2016 Spartans have done.

“Our offensive and defensive lines have played undisciplined, been out of position and without physicality,” Alumbaugh said. “If we do that (Friday), that kid will tear us up.”

That kid is Najee Harris, the consensus top recruit in the country who plays tailback for Antioch. The matchup between one of the nation’s premier programs and the country’s top recruit is why ESPN approached the schools about televising the game.

The matchup lost a little luster after De La Salle’s defeat and Antioch’s 49-28 loss at Milpitas on Sept. 2.

Najee Harris (2) breaks away from the Cougars' defense as Antioch played the Rancho Cotate Cougars at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park, Calif., on Friday, September 16, 2016. Najee Harris (2) breaks away from the Cougars' defense as Antioch played the Rancho Cotate Cougars at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park, Calif., on Friday, September 16, 2016. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Antioch, De La Salle coaches relish TV game 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Like the Spartans, Antioch’s troubles have been on defense, having allowed 134 points (33.5 per game). The offense (46 per game), behind 942 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns from Harris, has been just fine.

“The game is going to be won in the trenches,” Lucido said. “They get off the ball so fast. They don’t stop. They go 110 percent. We have two or three different schemes. We’ll need to adjust on the fly.

“Offensively, we’ll need to be much more than the Najee Harris show.”

Said Alumbaugh, who is led offensively by junior tailback Kairee Robinson and senior quarterback Obel Ordaz: “Our offense could be our best defense. We definitely want to keep the ball away from them as much as possible.”

Sophomore quarterback Willem Karnthong (675 yards, nine touchdowns) and senior receiver Isaiah Dunn (9 catches, 207 yards, 5 TDs) have been a strong combination for Antioch, which has not played a game on national television. The Panthers feature seven players who have received college offers.

“This is a great opportunity to play on ESPN and upset one of the top teams in the country,” Lucido said. “We’ve had a great week of practice. It’s exciting. Our guys are really excited.”

De La Salle has played countless nationally televised games, but for 30 first-year varsity players, this is also something new.

“We’ve always de-emphasized the brighter lights and just tried to focus on the game and opponent,” Alumbaugh said. “We’ll need to. Antioch has a lot of good players. Not just” Harris.

Mitch Stephens is a senior writer at MaxPreps.com.

Other games of the week

Aptos (2-2) at #25 Aragon-San Mateo (4-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Aragon (173-43 point difference) gets its first big test against perennial Santa Cruz Coast League power.

#10 Freedom-Oakley (4-0) at #14 Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (3-0): Might very well turn out to be the game of the night as O’Dowd averages 54 points per game and Freedom 46.5.

#3 Monte Vista-Danville (3-0) at #11 California-San Ramon (4-0), 7 p.m. Friday: East Bay Athletic League title could be decided by this superb matchup.

#4 Pittsburg (4-0) at Vacaville (3-1), 7 p.m. Friday: Heavyweights from North Coast and Sac-Joaquin sections should slug it out. Can Vacaville slow state’s No. 2 rusher, Montaz Thompson (1,044 yards, 15 TDs)?

No. 18 Serra (0-3) at #6 Valley Christian (3-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday: Don’t let the records fool you: Should be a terrific WCAL opener for both teams, though Valley Christian has big edge up front.

#8 Bellarmine (3-0) at #17 St. Ignatius (2-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: After four previous games were decided by a combined 25 points, Bellarmine rolled 42-6 last season.

Watch high school football on SFGate.com

In a new offering featured on SFGate.com, The Chronicle will be live streaming several high school football games each week. To watch the games, go to sfgate.com/sports/preps.

FRIDAY

(All games at 7 p.m.)

Aptos at Aragon

Freedom at Bishop O’Dowd

Monte Vista at California

SATURDAY

Bellarmine at St. Ignatius, 1 p.m.

Tamalpais at Marin Catholic, 2 p.m.