Friday, August 28, 2026
Because of the generosity of Paul Sabolić by giving us his tickets to last Friday's Dodgers-Pirates MLB game, we were not able to attend a Varsity high school game in Week 0.
Thus, tonight, I was joined by our son Michael to watch a marquee Week 1 matchup of two traditional Southern California high school football powers.
Hart H.S. Hawks (1-0)
Ranked #222 in California
Since it's founding in 1945, Hart's athletic teams were known as the Indians. Now, after over 80 years, Hart's teams are called, the more politically correct, the Hawks.
Time marches on.
In their Week 0 contest, the Hawks beat Birmingham, 20-0.
Newbury Park H.S Panthers (0-1)
Ranked #87 in California
The Panthers lost a tough, triple overtime game to Westlake last Friday, 32-26.
One of the reasons for attending this game was the new QB for the Panthers.
Newbury Park's starting QB vs. Westlake was a Senior who broke a bone in his non-passing hand at the end of the game.
This injury ushered the way to tonight's debut of the Panthers' much ballyhooed Freshman QB to get his first taste of Varsity football.
It should be noted that Newbury Park's backup QB tonight was also a Freshman. This player was the starting QB the last two years on grandson Jacob's Pop Warner Camarillo Stingers' teams. He would get into the game for a series in the Fourth Quarter tonight.
The Panthers Run-Through Tunnel
was READY!
Offensive Line warmup near our
prime End Zone seats
The NPHS Band taking the field
A grumpy looking but inwardly
serene Friday Night Lights fan
Note the pink wristband that I'm sporting, the sign that I'm officially allowed to be on the field.
It almost got me into trouble on the way home after dropping Michael off at his home.
When I got off the 101 Freeway at the Las Posas exit, about a half mile up the road, the local gendarmes had set up a traffic stop to check for up-to-date driver's licenses and possible DUI violations.
When I handed over my driver's license to the officer with my right hand, he focused on that pink wristband that I was still wearing.
Apparently, taking me for a guy returning from an early night of clubbing, he started asking a bunch of questions about what I'd been doing tonight.
Fortunately, I was coherent and well spoken enough about tonight's game to pass muster and I was on my way home.
Good thing that they do not serve alcohol at high school games.
At least legally that is.
Kicking Off the game
Hart's opening drive ate
up almost nine minutes and
finished with a TD
The Hawks PAT was good
NP Kickoff Return to the left
The first snap of the new Freshman
QB's career sailed WAY over his
head resulting in a 20 yard loss
Smartly I thought, given the 14 year old QB at the helm in his first high school game, the Panthers ran the ball to start the game and to take some pressure off of the QB's shoulders for this drive.
One of Michael's teaching colleagues
at NPHS who teaches photography
plying his trade
Panthers driving in the Red Zone
The Panthers finished this drive
with a two yard TD run
The Moon rising over
George Hurley Field at Halftime
Final Score
Hart (2-0) - 21
Newbury Park (0-2) - 10
Next Friday, in their Week 2 games, Newbury Park (0-2) travels north to take on the Arroyo Grande Eagles (1-1), while Hart (2-0) hosts the powerhouse Pacifica Tritons (2-0).
The results of tonight's
Ventura County area games
Nice to see Del Sol, playing with their first ever Senior class, win their first game of the season, just their second ever victory at the Varsity level.
Pacifica was ranked #53 in California going into their huge win at home over the #20 ranked team in the Golden State, San Diego's Lincoln H.S. Hornets.
It looks like Dos Pueblos may have forgotten to pay their S.C. Edison bill this month.
It was great to watch a good Varsity football game. Can't wait until we head to our, as of yet undetermined, Week 2 game.
