Saturday, October 24, 2026
For a great number of years, we have been threatening to drive for three hours towards Death Valley to attend a game at Trona High School's famed Griffith Stadium, a.k.a. "The Pit."
Today was that day.
But why you ask?
Why, to watch an 8-man football game
on a 100% dirt field of course!
According to the New York Times, the Good Morning America TV show and the Los Angeles Times, it is the only existing all dirt high school football field in the entire USA.
Let's take a look at our host town today, San Bernardino County's unincorporated community of Trona, California, with an estimated population 1,900 brave souls.
This isolated and somewhat desolate community is located on the western edge of Searles Lake, a dry lake bed in the Searles Valley southwest of Death Valley and about 205 miles northeast of Camarillo.
Trona originally was a company mining town named after the mineral trona found in abundance in the lake bed, it is the combination of searing heat and highly saline soil that kills all attempts at growing grass, thus the dirt field.
Trona is still a mining town that is, along with the nation of Turkey, the world's prime source of sodium carbonate used in the production of detergents, water softeners and the manufacturing of glass, soap and paper.
Because of their dirt field, when Trona H.S. was part of the C.I.F.-Southern Section, they were not allowed to host any playoff football games. The Tornadoes now compete in the C.I.F.-Central Section and I have no idea if they still face a similar playoff ban.
With this knowledge in hand, at 9:00 a.m. this morning, son Michael and I headed out of Camarillo for a pleasant drive through some parts of California that neither of us had experienced before today.
Our combatants in today's C.I.F.-Central Section, 8-man football, non-league contest would square off at 2:30 p.m. in Trona's 2026 Homecoming Game.
Frazier Park H.S. Falcons
Founded in 1995
Student Enrollment: 300 in Grades 9-12
Lebec, California
2 Wins - 5 Losses, Overall
1 Win - 2 Losses, Mountain-Valley League
at
Trona H.S. Tornadoes
Founded in 1942
Student Enrollment: 116 in Grades 7-12
Trona, California
4 Wins - 3 Losses, Overall
1 Win - 2 Losses, Hi-Lo League
The Trona roster was made up of 24 players that included seven Freshmen, nine Sophomores, three Juniors and five Seniors.
As for Frazier Mountain, their roster on MaxPreps lists 33 players but for a variety of reasons, only 14 Falcons were suited out today.
I mentioned that our three hour drive took us through lots of uncharted territory today. Let's take a peek at what we saw.
Lot's and . . .
. . . lots of . . .
. . . interesting geological formations
In Inyokern, we felt exactly like we were
"100 Miles From Everywhere"
Long dirt road in Inyokern that begged
a 15 mph Dust Control speed limit
We were getting close
Yes indeed, Trona IS a mining town
Thanks to the Yelp app, we had set our sights on dining at Trona's Mexican cantina that goes by the name of Esparza's Family Restaurant.
When we arrived there, we found a sign on their door stating, Closed on Saturdays.
Now what?
We quickly found out that Trona has absolutely zero cell/internet reception. We would pick it up again 17 miles away when we re-entered the booming metropolis of Ridgecrest on the ride home. Thus, we had no clue where to find Trona's only other restaurant.
We headed to Trona H.S. for
our first view of the "The Pit"
We still had nearly two hours before the Kickoff and were famished. We queried the lady selling tickets to the game and she gave us simple directions to our desired dining spot.
But we had to be on the lookout
for migrating burros along the way
FOUND IT!
Michael entering our classic and
nostalgic small town Americana
burger joint
Pioneers crossing the desert to
settle in Trona
Those were the days.
Trails Drive In had . . .
. . . an extensive menu
My Western Bacon Cheeseburger and Michael's Chicken Burrito both hit the sweet spot!
Located behind the Trails Drive In
Of course the Pioneer Point Market cashes payroll checks.
Gym Entrance, where's the gym?
As we would find out, that empty field was the site of all of the old Trona H.S.'s buildings.
This is the new Trona H.S. located
on the opposite side of the campus
There is the new entrance to
Trona's pesky gym
It was time to enter "The Pit" once again, just in time to see the Homecoming Court introduced to the crowd.
Elijah, take you helmet off
"The Pit" was well manicured today
Trona Helmet Line-up
We were ready for a great experience
and would not be disappointed
Nice setting with temperatures
in the low 70s but it was breezy
Taking a closer look at the field . . .
. . . we found that the white lines
were somehow salt based
It makes sense when you understand the make-up of the soil in general in Trona.
Trona H.S. Helmets
Trona H.S. Helmet Decals
Frazier Mountain H.S. Helmet
Frazier Mountain H.S. Helmet Decals
Tornadoes come in all
shapes and sizes
Here comes the Homecoming Court
Each Princess was met by a Tornado
#12 sporting the blue crown is
Homecoming King and Senior,
Tyler Knight
Seniors #11 Caid McCullar and #12
Tyler Knight escorting Homecoming
Queen Chanelle Soberanes
The Homecoming Court introduced and seated, it was time to get ready to play.
Trona Tornadoes Warm-Up Lines
One-on-One blocking
This match-up looks better than
the previous one
What a BEAUTIFUL day
for American football!
It was about at this time that a lady asked the assembled crowd if anyone would like to volunteer to work the chains.
Nobody responded with a hand up save Michael.
She hired Michael on the spot
Michael greeting another
Chain Gang member
He was asked what year he graduated from Trona H.S. and were shocked to find out that he was just visiting for the day.
QBs, Centers and TEs warming-up
Now, this was a first
The entire Homecoming Court joined the Cheerleaders to form the Tornadoes Run-Through Tunnel.
SO COOL!
And then this happened after the National Anthem.
Cousins, #7, Sophomore Oliver McCullar
and #11, Senior Caid McCullar came
galloping into "The Pit" on horseback
They rode in in full Trona football
uniforms except having temporarily
trading in their helmets for cowboy hats
They did FOUR full speed laps of the field while the PA system served up a recording of John "The Duke" Wayne narrating a a speech about what makes America great while America the Beautiful played softly in the background.
Our two cowboys sprinting back
onto "The Pit" in time for the Kickoff
Small town Americana, you just can't make this stuff up and I, for one, LOVE IT!
Trona squib kicking to start the game
Falcons about to . . .
. . . complete a Swing Pass for a
FIRST DOWN!
Tornadoes dominating the LOS
REVERSE for the . . .
. . . first Tornado TD of the game
by Sophomore Joseph Rivera
Senior Caid "Cowboy" McCullar
scoring a second Trona TD
Topsy-Turvy with Dirt FLYING!
Almost a great catch by the Falcons
#28, Senior Jose Sanchez
Trona Punt Return that got
called back due to the dreaded
Block in the Back penalty
If you fall asleep in the Secondary
because of Trona's potent run game . . .
. . . the Tornadoes will make you
pay with precision play-action passes
TD catch by #88 Junior Branson Price from QB #12 Senior Tyler "Homecoming King" Knight.
The Tornadoes Cheerleaders do one
Jumping Jack for the new score
after every TD and PAT
How in the world did the Falcons QB
#7, Ely Barahona . . .
. . . launch that pass?
A classic "The Pit" face plant
on the right
End of the First Quarter
Trona - 20
Frazier Mountain - 0
Michael called me down to the field
at the start of the Second Quarter
I was quickly informed that I had now been elevated to the position of Unofficial Frazier Mountain Team Photographer.
I was thus warmly welcomed onto the Falcons sideline along with the Chain Gang.
I now had the Best View in "The Pit"
After another Trona TD
That meant more Jumping Jacks for the Cheerleaders.
Two more players about to say
hello to "The Pit's" surface
Launching another Falcons' pass
QB Sack by the Trona Defense
So what, Frazier Mountain's #6, Freshman
David Ryan takes to the air again
Now, I wonder where these two
horse hoof prints came from?
Falcons mid-game Pow-Wow
Frazier Mountain's RB #26, Freshman
Brandon Ford was splendid today
Falcon Double Team Block
Battling in The Pit at "The Pit"
Tornadoes rampaging again
Up for grabs
Halftime Score
Trona - 36
Frazier Mountain - 0
The final score of the First Half came with 0:08 left in the Second Quarter and, by mutual consent of the two coaching staffs, triggered the running clock, Mercy Rule.
Back in town for Homecoming,
Trona Class of 1974?
"Every woman's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man." - ZZ Top
The Falcons committing themselves
to still playing hard in the Second Half
The young man on the left is a
volunteer coach who played for the
Falcons last season
I wasn't fast enough to capture it but I did see him drawing a play in the dirt for the OC to mull over and then quickly erase it so that no potential Trona spy would see it.
This game experience just kept getting better and better.
Before the Third Quarter started, a Falcons lineman was relating going to the bathroom at Halftime and pulling down his pants to find all sorts of dirt in them.
No surprise to me, you're playing at "The Pit" after all.
No surprise to me, you're playing at "The Pit" after all.
Here come the Tornadoes again
Toss Sweep . . .
. . . getting to the Edge
Still need to work on those stances
Easily intimidated by a hand
to the throat
That's just about me though, don't know if it is true for this Falcon.
The Falcons were still swarming
on Defense despite the score
Throwing a receiver open
A good looking block by
#60, Freshman Jax Delaney
RALLY TO THE BALL, FALCONS!
About to get hectic
Open but overthrown
End of the Third Quarter
Trona - 36
Frazier Mountain - 0
The Falcons were having a Defensive resurgence and loving it!
I took a look at some of "The Pit's" finer accouterments.
The practice equipment could use
some refurbishing in the off-season
This drag is important. . .
. . . along with this roller in keeping
"The Pit" PRISTINE!
On to the final 12 minutes of the game
There was lots of friendly banter,
class and sportsmanship on display
by both teams today
A vastly different and refreshing scenario from the powerhouse Catholic school that we watched make fools of themselves last night in all three of these areas.
Still battling to score
A Frazier Mountain pass completion
Driving to the Goal Line
Another trip to the dirt
The Tornadoes Pass Rush was
RELENTLESS!
Here comes Branden Ford . . .
. . . and there he goes!
We were at a point where, game securely in hand for Trona, everyone desperately wanted Frazier Park to score.
This play ended with the Falcons RB being knocked out of bounds at the five yard line.
QB sneak to the one, the Falcons
were going to score
OH, NO a bad snap led . . .
. . . to a huge loss of yardage
The Flacons tried again . . .
. . . but were denied a TD
Still the clean, physical play continued
Intimidating stand-up NG
for Frazier Mountain
Note #17 at DE in this photo is Senior Brissa Mosso, the lone female Falcon on the Frazier Mountain roster.
There she goes running to
maintain outside leverage!
Final Score
Trona (5-3) - 36
Frazier Mountain (2-6) - 0
There are many wondrous things to be seen at these small town games including community pride, wholesome competition, players on horseback and, especially today, "The Pit."
Was I happy that we finally made
the trek to Trona?
100%, YES!
Our three hour drive home went smoothly with lively discussions about the great times that we shared today in wondrous Trona, California and at "The Pit."
