An unusual venue was the setting as De La Salle recovered a familiar feeling.

Senior quarterback Sante Gasperoni passed for two touchdowns and Michael Lopez ran for two to lead the Pilots to a 42-21 Catholic League Central Division football victory over Brother Rice at Jimmy John’s Field on Friday night.

Anthony Bitonti and Michael Walker ran for a touchdown apiece as De La Salle won for the second time in as many years at the home of the United Shore Professional Baseball League in Utica. It was the Warren team’s first victory since Sept. 13, following a pair of defeats and an open week on the schedule.

“It was a big win,” Gasperoni said after the Pilots improved to 2-2 in the division and 4-2 overall. “After the (Detroit Catholic Central) loss we really locked in during the bye week. We wanted to come out here and play well and get the win, and we did that.”

Gasperoni completed 13 of 20 attempts for 196 yards and one interception on a field that stretched from the third-base dugout to right field.

Gasperoni split snaps with Bitonti, whose 6-yard run opened the scoring during the Pilots’ homecoming game.

“Sante had been a little banged up,” De La Salle coach Dan Rohn said. “We wanted to use Anthony. He’s a good football player, and we need to develop him.

“We wanted to make sure they’re both ready to go. We can’t rely on one guy all the time.”

Lopez scored on a 1-yard run that pushed the Pilots’ lead to 14-0 with 7:29 left in the second quarter, and his 8-yard burst capped a 96-yard drive on the first possession of the third quarter and helped De La Salle’s lead grow to 35-7.

Lopez is continuing a comeback after missing part of last season with a knee injury.

“It feels great to come back after such a long recovery time and be able to make an impact for my team,” the senior track sprinter said.

Brother Rice scored one touchdown in the first half and two in the second.

Jeremiah Cross caught a 25-yard pass from Luke Kovachevich to cut into the Pilots’ 21-0 lead in the second quarter.

Amyre Carter returned an interception 78 yards in the third quarter, and Kovachevich and Cross hooked up from 15 yards out with two seconds left in the game.

“Hats off to De La Salle,” Warriors coach Aaron Marshall said. “They’re an experienced ballclub and well coached.

“Our boys fought to the end. We’re very young. We’ll keep fighting. The kids finish ballgames, no matter whether we’re winning or losing. I’m proud of them for that.”

Brother Rice is 1-2 and 2-5.

The left-handed Gasperoni and Phoenix Glassnor teamed up on a 38-yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead.

After Cross’ first touchdown, Brother Rice forced a punt late in the second quarter, but the Pilots’ David Williams intercepted a pass at the Warriors’ 40. A couple plays later, Gasperoni found Dalton Drogosh on a post pattern for a touchdown with four seconds left before halftime.

Walker scored on a 29-yard run with 2:09 left in the game.

“Winning was important, getting back on track,” Rohn said. “We moved some guys around. We needed to make some adjustments.

“We’re getting healthy and we’re trying to get ourselves ready for the stretch run, which is important for us.”

De La Salle has played in four consecutive state Division 2 championship games, winning two.

The Pilots are 3-2 against Brother Rice since 2020.

In Week 8, De La Salle plays Toledo St. John’s Jesuit, and Brother Rice plays Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.