Let’s play football, kids; but not politics

By OC Tribune Staff on September 11, 2018 • ( Leave a comment )

PERHAPS IN sports we should focus on what unites us rather than what divides us.

One of the more-watched football games of the week will take place in Aliso Viejo on Friday when the home Aliso Niguel Wolverines host Pacifica in a non-league contest.

It’s interesting from a gridiron standpoint because its shapes up as a good contest: Aliso is 4-0 and ranked second in Division 9 while Pacifica (2-2) has played a very tough pre-league schedule.

But the home team made the front page of the Los Angeles Times on Monday because of a flap about controversial signs appearing at last week’s contest against Santa Ana.

According to the Times, the home side of the stadium included posters that reportedly read, “Build the Wall” and “We Love White” and “Trump,” messages which were especially sensitive since the vast majority of SAHS students are Hispanic. The majority at Aliso is white.

There’s some disagreement between the two schools as to just what happened. Santa Ana principal Jeff Bishop mentioned signs the Aliso principal Deni Christensen didn’t see, but she said that two other political signs – one praising President Donald Trump and one praising former President Barack Obama – were spotted and removed.

At the demand of the Santa Ana High principal, several other signs were taken down, but the incident raised several questions. Did the Aliso Niguel administrators act before being prodded by Santa Ana? What rules, if any, should there be about political speech at a high school athletic contest? How do we define “offensive” speech?

With luck, lessons have been learned and the big news to come out of that game will be a football score.

Week Four football matchups

Here is the schedule of football games this week for schools serving the communities of Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton and Westminster. All games are scheduled at 7 p.m.

These are all non-league contests. As always, locations, times and dates are subject to change without notice, so call first.

FRIDAY

Northwood (2-1) at Bolsa Grande (1-2).
Pomona (3-1) at Garden Grove (3-0).
La Quinta (1-2) at Santa Ana Valley (2-2).
Los Amigos (2-1) at Costa Mesa (0-4).
Santiago (2-1) at Magnolia (1-3) at Handel Field (Western HS).
Orange (2-1) at Westminster (0-4).
Pacifica (2-2) at Aliso Niguel (4-0).
Marina (2-2) at Huntington Beach (3-1).
Rancho Alamitos (1-3) at Godinez (1-2).
Ocean View (3-0) at Estancia (3-0).
Western (3-1) at Glenn (2-2).

Chargers still no. 1; Oilers move up

The Tribune’s High 5 of local high school football teams shows Edison still at the top, but there’s one change.

Huntington Beach High’s Oilers have moved up to third, switching places with Pacifica, which is now fourth. Garden Grove stayed in second after the Argonauts thumped rival Rancho Alamitos and kept their record unbeaten at 3-0.

Gridiron stars from last week

There were lots of great performances by area prep football players last Friday and Saturday, but here are a few which especially stand out.

Mike Carrilloof Garden Grove High rushed for 154 yards and five TDs in the Argonauts’ win over rival Rancho Alamitos.
Jack Millerof Marina passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings’ close loss to unbeaten Katella.
Michael Nadeaupassed for three scores in La Quinta’s win over Costa Mesa.
Anthony Munozpassed for 330 yards and four touchdowns in Western’s rout of rival Anaheim.