Fairfax High School celebrated their 100th anniversary with a victory when they defeated Los Angeles High School 18-14 on Friday. The game kicked off their festivities which also included a dance and picnic on Saturday.
During halftime, Fairfax honored their past student athletes with a parade. All attendees also got to enjoy a fireworks show prior to the start of the second half.
Fairfax senior Gideon Obienu noted how alumni have shared their memories with the team.
“Before the game, a couple of alumni were coming in showing us their old jerseys,” Obienu said. “It was very nice to see that and to be able to talk to the alumni.”
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The Lions came out strong, scoring on their first possession on a 55-yard rush by junior Evan Castillo.
“I’m proud of him. He has been playing [junior varsity] since I’ve known him and he’s finally getting some playing time playing varsity,” Romans junior Isaac Andrews said about Castillo. “We was warming up earlier, I was telling him “calm down, make the right reads and play hard.””
The Los Angeles Romans fumbled on their next possession and the Lions offense was able to start right outside the Roman red zone.
Andrews ran in his first touchdown of the game from 17 yards out. The Los Angeles offense made a turnover at their own 38 yard-line, allowing Andrews to score again on a 13-yard passing play.
With every touchdown Fairfax made, they were unable to score the extra point, leaving them with an 18-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Romans defense brought more intensity in the second quarter, denying the Lions a touchdown on a fourth and goal and sacking quarterback Matthew Gonzalez.
After celebrating its centennial during halftime, Fairfax remained silent. This allowed the Romans to rally late.
Carries by seniors Semaj Williams and Jeshua Alcantara would lead Los Angeles to their first touchdown with 8:16 left in regulation. A successful two-point conversion put the Romans within 10 points of the Lions.
The Romans battled in the final minutes, committing a pitch-pass to score one last time. Quarterback Ethan Grant handed off the ball to Williams who threw a deep pass to senior Roberto Garcia for a touchdown.
“It was a last second decision, we haven’t practiced that at all,” Williams said. “(Romans head coach Anthony) Jackson asked me if I was ready to throw the ball and I took my glove off, saw [Garcia] wide open and I just threw it to him.”
Fairfax will travel to battle Chatsworth on September 13 at 7:00P.M. and Los Angeles will have an away game against Westchester on Friday at 7:30P.M.
