Lessons learned: Mater Dei coach finally beats De La Salle

MISSION VIEJO — Mater Dei coach Raul Lara still remembers losing to De La Salle. 

The then-Long Beach Poly coach lost to the Spartans at home 29-15 in 2001 in one of the most anticipated high school football matchups ever – a game so big that it was portrayed in the Hollywood movie “When the Game Stands Tall.” 

Then, in 2002, Lara’s Long Beach Poly team fell once again to De La Salle, 28-7, at Cal’s Memorial Stadium.

But on Saturday night, vengeance wasn’t on Lara’s mind when...