Coaching for Pizza: Football, Football, Football

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Football, Football, Football

Thurs. & Fri., October 12-13, 2023

Another weekend of football games, what's not to like?

It started with a J.V. game on Thursday afternoon between two old rivals.

Rio Mesa H.S. Spartans

Oxnard H.S. Yellowjackets

Sharp looking Rio Mesa helmets

Spartans on the move

The Spartans about to score even

though they were in cruise control mode

Safe to say that the Spartans

were the superior club today

After the game with two of the

Rio Mesa coaches

Gordy Abellera on the left and Jorge Zaragoza on the right were both players at Rio Mesa when I coached the Spartans in the 1990s.

Two good players and better men. It was good to see them both after a good win over Oxnard.

On Friday afternoon, after visiting my Mother in Pasadena, I headed to a rare 4:00 p.m. kickoff between two Los Angeles City Section and Central League rivals.

Mendez H.S. Jaguars (0-7)

Contreras H.S. Cobras (2-5)

Despite their records, these two schools have two of the best logos in all of high school football, in my opinion.

It was Contreras' Homecoming Game, so I just had to be there.

Contreras H.S. is located in the

heart of downtown Los Angeles

I arrived at about 3:45 p.m. to find both the ticket booth and the gates to the stadium both still closed.

I was in a line with about 100 people waiting to buy a ticket when the ticket seller finally opened for business at 3:55 p.m., just five minutes before kickoff.

Ticket secured, I now got into another line to get into the stadium. The gates opened precisely at 4:00 p.m., the same time as the scheduled kickoff.

By the time I finally got into the stadium, the First Quarter was about half over.

Mendez, in white, coming out

of their own end zone

That drive ended with this punt

The stadiums announcer was interesting being more of a homer color commentator than game announcer.

At the conclusion of one play he announced, "Refs, how could not call that obvious Mendez horse collar tackle?"

On a long pass play near the Goal Line his announcement was, "Refs, the Mendez DB never turned around, how is that not a pass interference call?"

The refs did not respond to any of the announcers taunts.

Here come the Cobras with their

beautiful Wing-T Offense

Of course Contreras runs the Wing-T. What else would you expect?

It's about to get serious in

The Pit

At the Half, the Cobras had a slim 7-0 lead.

Now for the awesome Half Time Homecoming festivities complete with the band performing and the announcement of the Homecoming Court.

There was no Half Time Homecoming festivities complete with the band performing and the announcement of the Homecoming Court.

Disappointing.

Blocking, Running, Tackling

Another solid run by the Cobras

Uh-oh, Mendez and their HUGE

QB, #99, on the Goal Line

Jaguars for Six!

It was, thankfully, not enough for the Mendez squad.

Final Score

Contreras Cobras (3-5) - 22

Mendez Jaguars (0-8) - 19

The Mendez vs. Contreras game ended at about 6:00 p.m. I still had time to make it to another game much closer to home.

La Serna H.S. Lancers (4-3)

Newbury Park H.S. Panthers (5-2)

The Panthers rely on

their vaunted passing game

Drop back and spin it!

La Serna, on the other hand, is

Old School running the Wing-T

While the Contreras Cobras ran the Wing-T effectively earlier today, La Serna ran the old, famed Delaware Offense to absolute perfection this evening.

At the Half Time intermission, La Serna led comfortably, 21-7.