SRV Heads to De La Salle for Battle of EBAL Unbeatens

Any time two big-time college quarterback recruits square off in a high school football game, the tendency is for the game to be about those two players rather than the teams involved.

At least for outsiders.

Tonight's game between (6-1) and De La Salle (6-1) fits the criteria — SRV quarterback Zach Kline is headed to Cal and DLS's Bart Houston will play at Wisconsin — but it's unlikely it'll hinge on the play of the team's star signal callers.

"If (Houston) is throwing 25 passes, you're probably doing a good job competing with them," San Ramon coach Mark Kessler said. "(Passing) is not really their offense."

Instead, the Spartans employ a run-heavy offense out of heavy offensive sets that use multiple tight ends. For the Spartans, Houston is more of a game manager, Kessler said.

When the Spartans do choose to go to the air, they have one of the nation's top recruits. Scout.com ranks Houston as the nation's No. 4 quarterback high school quarterback — seven spots ahead of Kline, who checks in at No. 11.

San Ramon uses Kline in the way you might expect from the school — and town — which has churned out great quarterback after great quarterback. He's completed 114 of 166 passes (68.7) for 1,857 yards and 21 touchdowns, with just four interceptions. 

Having similar production against De La Salle, you know, the team that hasn't lost to a Northern California opponent since 1991, is a completely different task.

Which is why, if San Ramon expects to have a chance, it'll need game-of-their-life type performances from just about everyone on its roster. The offensive line needs to give Kline to throw, running back Jordan Weiss needs to be effective and its defense will need to force turnovers.

"You gotta play perfect to have a shot at competing against them," Kessler said.

Just to compete, let alone win.

"I believe that we can (win)," Kline said. "I know that we can."

Easier said than done, but with what Kessler called the "best offensive line" in his tenure at San Ramon, the Wolves might be better equipped than ever.

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For live updates from tonight's game, follow Kyle Bonagura on Twitter

Also check Danville Patch later tonight for a recap of the score and the game.