By Eric Sondheimer
November 17, 2013, 4:22 p.m.
I've been tossing and turning all night. I'm hearing the crowd roar. I'm seeing UCLA Coach Jim Mora and USC Coach Ed Orgeron smiling on the sideline. I'm watching exuberant fans dance in the stands.
On one side of the field is unbeaten Bellflower St. John Bosco. On the other side of the field is unbeaten Gardena Serra. It's the game of the year in Southern California prep sports. There are more than two dozen players on the same field who have college football scholarship offers.
It's QB Josh Rosen vs. QB Jalen Greene. It's DB Jaleel Wadood vs. DB Adoree' Jackson. It's OL Damian Mama vs. OL Rasheem Green. It's LB Chandler Leniu vs. LB Dwight Williams. It's DL Malik Dorton vs. DE Olajuwon Tucker. It's WR Shay Fields vs. WR Jordan Lasley. It's Coach Jason Negro vs. Coach Scott Altenberg.
I can't believe how lucky I am to be here.
I've seen so many great games through the years. I was there in 1977 when two future Super Bowl quarterbacks, John Elway of Granada Hills and Jay Schroeder of Palisades, played an overtime City Section playoff game won by Granada Hills, 28-27.
I watched an electrifying sophomore running back, Russell White, lead Encino Crespi to the Big Five Division championship in a win over St. John Bosco at Angel Stadium in 1986. I saw Dorsey block a punt with seven seconds left and recover the ball in the end zone to go from certain defeat to stunning victory in the Coliseum in the City championship game against Taft in 2001.
I saw Serra defeat Oaks Christian, 42-41, in overtime in pouring rain in 2009 in a playoff game that featured Robert Woods, Marqise Lee, Malcolm Jones and Cassius Marsh.
I saw Anaheim Servite players slip, slide and surf in mud and heavy rain in 2009 at Angel Stadium en route to winning a Pac-5 championship over Huntington Beach Edison.
I've seen future NFL quarterbacks throw touchdowns in the most pressure-filled moments of their teenage days. I've seen players in tears after winning and losing playoff games. There's always a story to tell. There's always a memory to cherish.
I'm imagining what it would be like sitting in the press box for St. John Bosco-Serra. . . .
Something has awakened me from my dream.
It's Sunday morning. Reality is setting in.
St. John Bosco and Serra are still four weeks away from a potential meeting in the CIF state championship Southern California Open Division bowl game on Dec. 14.
The Braves need three more wins in the Pac-5 playoffs. The Cavaliers need three more wins in the Western Division playoffs.
There's no guarantee one or both won't stumble along the way.
But if the football gods are smiling down upon us, we'll get another game for the ages.
[email protected]
November 17, 2013, 4:22 p.m.
I've been tossing and turning all night. I'm hearing the crowd roar. I'm seeing UCLA Coach Jim Mora and USC Coach Ed Orgeron smiling on the sideline. I'm watching exuberant fans dance in the stands.
On one side of the field is unbeaten Bellflower St. John Bosco. On the other side of the field is unbeaten Gardena Serra. It's the game of the year in Southern California prep sports. There are more than two dozen players on the same field who have college football scholarship offers.
It's QB Josh Rosen vs. QB Jalen Greene. It's DB Jaleel Wadood vs. DB Adoree' Jackson. It's OL Damian Mama vs. OL Rasheem Green. It's LB Chandler Leniu vs. LB Dwight Williams. It's DL Malik Dorton vs. DE Olajuwon Tucker. It's WR Shay Fields vs. WR Jordan Lasley. It's Coach Jason Negro vs. Coach Scott Altenberg.
I can't believe how lucky I am to be here.
I've seen so many great games through the years. I was there in 1977 when two future Super Bowl quarterbacks, John Elway of Granada Hills and Jay Schroeder of Palisades, played an overtime City Section playoff game won by Granada Hills, 28-27.
I watched an electrifying sophomore running back, Russell White, lead Encino Crespi to the Big Five Division championship in a win over St. John Bosco at Angel Stadium in 1986. I saw Dorsey block a punt with seven seconds left and recover the ball in the end zone to go from certain defeat to stunning victory in the Coliseum in the City championship game against Taft in 2001.
I saw Serra defeat Oaks Christian, 42-41, in overtime in pouring rain in 2009 in a playoff game that featured Robert Woods, Marqise Lee, Malcolm Jones and Cassius Marsh.
I saw Anaheim Servite players slip, slide and surf in mud and heavy rain in 2009 at Angel Stadium en route to winning a Pac-5 championship over Huntington Beach Edison.
I've seen future NFL quarterbacks throw touchdowns in the most pressure-filled moments of their teenage days. I've seen players in tears after winning and losing playoff games. There's always a story to tell. There's always a memory to cherish.
I'm imagining what it would be like sitting in the press box for St. John Bosco-Serra. . . .
Something has awakened me from my dream.
It's Sunday morning. Reality is setting in.
St. John Bosco and Serra are still four weeks away from a potential meeting in the CIF state championship Southern California Open Division bowl game on Dec. 14.
The Braves need three more wins in the Pac-5 playoffs. The Cavaliers need three more wins in the Western Division playoffs.
There's no guarantee one or both won't stumble along the way.
But if the football gods are smiling down upon us, we'll get another game for the ages.
[email protected]