Prep talk: It’s Garfield vs. Roosevelt in East L.A. Classic
All season long, high school football coaches advise their players to stay focused and not look ahead. Then there’s what happens before, during and after the Garfield vs. Roosevelt football game.
“We’ve been hearing about this game since January,” Roosevelt coach Ernesto Ceja said. “I get texts, phone calls: ‘Are you going to beat Garfield?’ I’m like, “Let me put together a team, and then I’ll get back to you.” »
The annual East LA Classic, now in its 90th year, hosts a doubleheader and typically produces the largest regular season crowd of the football season. It is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at East Los Angeles College. The JV game will be at 4 p.m., followed by a girls flag football game, then the varsity game. DJ Mustard will be part of the halftime festivities.
During this time of concern over ICE raids in Los Angeles, East LA College officials say every entrance will be monitored by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, campus police or private security. The school hosted 11 high school graduations last summer without incident and believes fans should feel comfortable attending. Tickets are available at GoFan.co
Garfield is on the verge of winning the Eastern League title with a 6-2 record and a 5-0 league record. Roosevelt (4-4, 3-1) has won three straight championship games since switching to the dual-wing attack.
Garfield Principal Regina Marquez Martinez told a gathering of media, players, cheerleaders and band members at East Los Angeles College on Wednesday: “This community, these schools, we are as American as apple pie and pan dulce.”
LAUSD board member Rocio Rivas said, “Let’s go to East Los Angeles, let’s go to Boyle Heights. »
This is a daily look at positive happenings in high school sports. To submit news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
