On Thanksgiving, Cleveland football team practices, then feasts on 180 eggs, 25 pounds of pancake mix

They came on e-bikes, skateboards, walked or were dropped off by car early Thanksgiving morning at Cleveland High in Reseda.

It’s high school football championship week, and Thursday’s practice means the teams are still alive and one win away from the trophy.

“Turkey Day,” shouted starting lineman Adam Garbisch as he joined his teammates in stretching.

In coach Mario Guzman’s football office, his wife, Elizabeth, volunteered to be a cook and breakfast worker. On Wednesday, Guzman bought 15 dozen eggs, 25 pounds of pancake mix and 15 pounds of bacon.

“This comes from my huge end-of-season allowance,” Guzman said.

Elizabeth Guzman, wife of Cleveland football coach Mario Guzman, breaks one of 180 eggs Thursday morning to serve to players on Thanksgiving morning.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

His wife had already basted the family turkey the night before and now she was cracking 180 eggs with a smile and wearing plastic gloves. When she was finished, she decided to take a brief break. “I need some coffee first,” she said.

Cleveland is scheduled to face San Fernando for the City Section Division II championship Friday at 6 p.m. in Birmingham.

You can say the Cavaliers created the culture of a championship team because players ran onto the court when they were behind, without coaches to tell them to hustle.

Across the Southland, similar scenes were playing out in the Southern Section and City Section as teams prepared for their championship games Friday and Saturday.

Elizabeth, who teaches kindergartners, was excited to volunteer this Thanksgiving for her husband’s team.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than here,” she said.

After breakfast after practice, she had to run home and put the family turkey in the oven.

This is a daily look at positive happenings in high school sports. To submit news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.