(Edit – this is an older post that seems to have been stuck in draft mode. Oops)
So I’ve just been to my first High School football game, and boy was it fun.
Having seen Friday night lights, I wondered if the actual experience (especially in LA as opposed to a country town) would be anything like the TV series.
Well it was.
Friday Night Nov 13
Bishop Amat HS v Norco HS (At BA) 7 pm.
First round of the play-offs in the CIF PAC-5 division.
Both sides finished 8-2..
Game on.
First of all the crowd. Probably 5 – 6 thousand. I’m not kidding – I’ve seen less at an NRL game.
Full home bleachers, visiting team travelled with a few hundred supporters and were consigned to the far side “crappier” bleachers, but they filled most of it.
I arrived about an hr before the game – the traffic across LA was horrendous (with my estimated travel time of 20 mins taking 45). Could see the HS lights from a mile or more away.
Parked in the surrounding streets for free, there was a $5 car park option at the school, but I figured that would be a nightmare in and out. I was right. Unless there are city or county ordinance restrictions on match day always park in the street if you can.
$10 bought me a ticket to the game, $5 more a program.
Went to get a seat in the bleachers. Couple of things to note – entrance to the bleachers is through the back/underneath (Duh!) and you will probably find that the middle section is for reserved seats, faculty etc. Go to the side bleachers, grab a spot and sit down.
Now be careful, if you drop something off your seat it will fall against the bleachers base/backing and slide all the way to the bottom row where you can try and get someone to retrieve it for you.
Not so bad if you drop your program, but terrible if you drop your phone, or camera, or wallet.
I did none of these, though I saw a few others fall foul to the danger.
It will get cold so bring a decent jumper/coat. Many of the faithful wear Letterman jackets, and many have carry seats that clip on to the metal bleachers pews and afford you a modicum of comfort (I actually found the pews more than fine to sit on).
Note the time-honoured tradition of spreading out a blanket, leaving a jumper or program on the pew to reserve seats is dutifully observed. Simply tag your spot and you can go check out the other facets of the night – namely the concession stand
IF you want to eat, be prepared to wait. Queues are long, time-consuming, and the food on offer aint “gourmet”. Other than nachos, dogs etc you might find kettle corn – corn cooked in a huge metal drum over a roaring jet of propane fueled fire. Managed with a shovel, and normally sold by the “Yard” – ie the bag is a yard long. Long live excess. But be careful as the corn is cooked in sugar syrup as well as the usual – it gives it a an odd flavour that’s both salty and sweet – I found I could only eat a few handfuls (unlike the normal salted popcorn I’m used to devouring)
About 30 mins before kickoff the ground announcer starts in, feeling it necessary to list all 40 plus players from each side, with Number, Name, Year level, Weight and Height. That eventually recedes into the background – all the detail is in your program anyway, but families cheer their loved ones names as they are announced.
A note on the program. It was easily 100 pages plus, with at least 60 – 70 of them filled with external advertising or family placed ads of support for individuals (and there are a LOT of the latter). Quite odd – as a 17 year old, would you really want a full page ad taken out from mum and dad, telling the world that they love you, support you in your senior year, all linked to a bible passage (Oh BA are a strong Catholic HS btw).
Not quite how we would do it in Australia but..
The pre-game warm ups are highly professional – about 30 mins of stretches, drills and assorted activity in formation. It’s fairly regimented and disciplined – lots of whistles and barked instructions with players moving in synch.
Whilst this goes on, cheerleaders come out and warm up as well – a phallanx of high school girls from junior to varsity lined the 100 yard track end to end, each with a podium, megaphone and pom poms. It’s a hard gig – throughout the game they do their best to cheer, tumble etc, but have little impact on the crowd and are largely ignored. Doesn’t stop them from trying every trick in the book all night long though. Props.
The marching band also parade past, before lining up on field to play the Star Spangled Banner.
Mercifully no-one singing this time – not sure if this is usual or not.
The teams burst on to the ground surrounded by cheerleaders, then the 4 captains walk arm in arm, hand in hand or other similar show of unity for the coin toss and a few minutes later we are underway.
Norco elect to receive the ball, and from their 15 yard line take 15 plays to drive all the way for a touchdown. Audaciously they go for 2 extra points, get them and the lead was 8-0.
BA, on their very first reception fumble the ball, it’s recovered by Norco, who promptly march it all of about 30 of yards for another touchdown, another 2 extra points and the score is out to 16-0.
Not the start the home fans were expecting!
The Norco QB, 6 ft 3 and 230 lbs (in high school!) seems unstoppable – either hitting his receivers up, handing to a running back, or when no other option presented itself, running the ball himself. This latter action seems a popular choice, especially when he continually makes 20 and 30 yard gains carrying defenders with him like a giant burdened with hobbits.
Qtr time arrives with the score at 16-16, BA matching Norco’s first couple of 2 extra point conversions, (one TD as a the result of an interception but the visitors have the easier running and control of the game).
Norco continue in the ascendancy early in Q2 – two unanswered TDs (with normal 1 point conversions) push the score out to 30-16, and a few worried BA fans start to get cranky.
And then the moment that changes the game.
Norco kick off deep to BA. The RB catches the ball on the 5, and starts a decent return down the far (visitor side touchline). Just as it appears he is through he is collected by a massive high tackle that knocks him almost senseless. A good old fashioned clothesline that makes the entire stand “Oooh!” and wince.
Flags everywhere, boos from the crowd, lots of concern for the lad. Eventually he gets to his feet and slowly trudges to the sideline.
2 penalties against Norco – one an illegal block, the second unsportsmalike conduct for the high tackle, a 10 min break with momentum lost, and the BA boys now fired up.
What results is 35 unanswered points.
BA lift their intensity, hit passes, make runs – finally find an offence.
They start calling blitzes on the Norco QB, cutting down his time and options, then when he tries to run the ball himself, they swarm, hitting him as hard as possible, “putting him in the dirt” with the odd “extra” thrown in. The giant is being overwhelmed by the hobbits and starts to look tired.
The crowd erupts, momentum is all one way and at the half, BA seem invincible.
Straight after half time, another high tackle on the replacement BA running back from the kickoff, and any chance Norco had of inching their way back into the game is gone. This clothesline is only slightly less severe, but enough to refuel any half time lessening of the fire.
3 more BA TDs follow before they finally allow Norco a first down, that eventually leads to a forlorn TD (the QB acts as receiver on a desperation trick play).
All in all 8 unanswered tries and the home fans gorge on the feast.
Admittedly I join in – high fives all round, whooping and cheering along with everyone else.
The game peters out in the last qtr, a running clock (aka mercy rule) and a field full of secondary teams/players conspire to keep it scoreless and BA run out deserved 72-36 winners.
A few supporters left early, the victory having been assured, but many stay to the end, watching the students roar and celebrate. I’m sure the after party was a good one, despite it being a Catholic school.
All in all a brilliant night.
Great atmosphere, a big crowd, scintillating football, some poor food choices, high fives and whoop whooping all around, plus a home team win.
I can see why successful football programs get bums on seats, and get money through the faculty door.
I’d happily go watch my kids play every friday or second friday (at home) if was always like this.
If you get a chance to go to a HS football game, take the time. It will be worth it.
I’ll now be watching BA in the play-offs having adopted the Lancers as my team!
