Confidence can play a big part in a football team’s success.

De La Salle used that confidence Friday to hand host Grosse Pointe South its first defeat of the season, 35-21, in a Division 2 district championship game.

“The big thing was just to be confident,” said Anthony Bitonti, who scored three of the Pilots’ touchdown on runs from the “Wildcat” formation. “We know we’re a good team. We just have to play like it. We have the guys, we have the talent. As long as we do our jobs we can come out with the win every single week.”

Two of Bitonti’s touchdowns came in the second quarter when De La Salle came back from a 7-0 deficit to lead 14-7 at the half.

“I told the kids at the end of the game that we played a real good football team — a 10-0 team — at their place,” said Pilots coach Dan Rohn. “It’s not going to be easy this time of year but I’m proud of us for fighting and scratching and getting the win.”

South opened the scoring on a 7-yard pass from Jack Lupo to Vince Vachon. It was set up by Charlie Michelotti’s 51-yard run.

De La Salle answered on its next possession, driving 56 yards in nine plays with Bitonti going the final three. Quarterback Sante Gasperoni completed three passes for 36 yards.

The Pilots’ defense stopped a Blue Devils’ drive inside the 10-yard line with an interception by Sebastian Rouse. That set up a 98-yard drive that took nearly 5 1/2 minutes off the clock. It was capped by a 3-yard run by Bitonti.

“We got the interception at the end zone, went 98 yards and ran every play,” Rohn said. “That kind of took a little wind out of their sails. It’s big when you get turnovers and turn them into points.”

Another turnover led to the Pilots’ first score of the second half. Isaiah Jones recovered a fumble and returned it six yards to the South 18. On the next play, Damion King IV scored to put De La Salle ahead 21-7.

South ate up a good portion of the third quarter with a 15-play drive that ended with a 20-yard pass from Lupo to Trey Grabowski. Two pass interference penalties against De La Salle and a 13-yard run by Sam Rouleau from punt formation kept the drive alive.

De La Salle scored on its next two possessions to build its lead to 35-14 with 9:28 left in the game. Mike Lopez scored on a 49-yard run and Bitonti got the Pilots’ final touchdown when he broke loose for 44 yards.

“It’s a total team effort when you score on a play like that,” Bitonti said. “The guys up front did a great job and my back did a great job. On those big runs all 11 guys have to do their job.”

Bitonti had been the quarterback on the junior varsity team before being pressed into service as a running back last season when injuries depleted the De La Salle backfield. He also plays linebacker. This year his main role on offense has been to take snaps in the “Wildcat” formation.

“In my position it’s all about knowing my role,” he said. “I help wherever they need me. Whatever they ask me to do, I’ll do for them.”

South got the game’s final score on an 8-yard pass from Lupo to Vachon.

“It’s hard after this loss to reflect on the great season we had but it certainly was,” said South coach Chad Hepner. “As much as it hurts right now for these guys, they know. They know what they accomplished.”

Hepner said it was a multitude of things that turned the game in De La Salle’s favor.

“They had a couple of those long plays where we couldn’t get them on the ground,” he said. “A couple mistakes early in the game or turning it over in the red zone could have changed the game. When you play a team like that you look at certain things but it’s usually more than just one thing.”

Linebacker Lex Willson had an outstanding game for the Blue Devils and finished with 19 tackles.

De La Salle will next challenge unbeaten Birmingham Groves (11-0) on the road in the Division 2 regional championship round on Friday, Nov. 15.