Basking in the spotlight: La Serna excited to be in CIF-SS title game
Above: La Serna High School was well-represented at Monday's CIF-SS football press conference. Seated from left are OJ Medina, Craig Jones and Faris Nesheiwat. Standing from left are head coach Margarito Beltran, A.D. Steve Hemenway and Eric Johnson. (Leo Jarzomb / Staff Photographer)
LONG BEACH - For some, Monday's CIF-Southern Section football championships luncheon at The Grand convention center was old hat.
Those in attendance included perennial powers Oaks Christian, seeking its eighth CIF-SS title in nine seasons, and Corona Centennial, looking to win its seventh in 11 seasons.
But for La Serna High School football players Faris Nesheiwat, Craig Jones and OJ Medina, it felt like visiting Disneyland for the first time as they hope to bring the Lancers their first CIF-SS title since 1967 when they host West Covina at a site to be determined for the Southeast title on Friday. It's also La Serna's first trip to the final since the school beat Temple City, 33-7 that season.
"It's awesome," said Medina, a key factor for the Lancers' run through the playoffs who ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns in La Serna's 28-3 victory over Muir in the semifinals. "Being able to go to the finals is a great experience and bringing the captains here, it's very exciting for the whole team. It's just amazing to be surrounded by all these athletes.
"It feels good to hear the words from (keynote speaker Steve Sarkisian, University of Washington coach). I'm taking that all in. It's a good experience."
It's a trip that was earned, although La Serna's journey to the title game and Monday's luncheon was not always smooth.
The Lancers, who returned just two starters from a team that advanced to the semifinals last season, hit
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a bumpy road late in the regular season by losing 23-8 to Santa Fe in a game that eventually decided the Del Rio League title and closing the regular season with a 14-13 loss to California.
But for the Lancers, that just added to the thrill of Monday.
"I'm really happy for my players," said La Serna coach Margarito Beltran, whose team followed up last year's semifinal appearance by advancing to the finals this season. "We all get into coaching because we want to be involved in young men's lives, and not just teaching them football, but lessons they can carry though life.
"I think them being here is a byproduct of all their hard work and buying into what we have been instilling in them, which is hard work. We preach that. Hard work is the answer for everything. They have done that. They bust their butt at practice and in the weight room. It's what they believe in, and that's why they are here."
But while the Lancers were in awe on Monday, they don't by no means feel they've reached their pinnacle.
That, they hope, comes Friday when they face off against West Covina.
The Bulldogs won the division title last season and have looked dominant most of the season, including a 63-34 victory over La Mirada last week. The Matadores defeated La Serna, 31-0, in September.
"West Covina is a good team," said Jones, one of the top linebackers in the area. "But they are not unbeatable. We just have to have a good plan and come out and play hard."
But for one day, they basked in their accomplishments at the luncheon, which included a pretty good meal.
"It's awesome," said defensive lineman Faris Nesheiwat, who has been a big factor up front for La Serna, including a fumble return for a touchdown that keyed a win over Bonita. "You have some really good teams here who have won multiple championships, and players here who are going to USC, Alabama and some really good (colleges). It's an honor to be here."
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Steve Ramirez is the prep sports editor for the Whittier Daily News.
Wesley Crusher is their running back?
@La Serna Parent: obviously, you don't have a son on the football team, or you don't like football, so it's easy for you to brush aside the needs of those who do, in the true fashion of someone who sees only as far as the end of his nose.
Regarding this wrestling match you're attending: I'm guessing you've got a kid participating, or some such situation. What if, due to the opponents' decision, you'd have to spend the entire time watching the match standing on your tip-toes? On top of that, what if some jerk rubbed it in your face by declaring that all the wrestling surfaces are the same everywhere in the country, and this is only about "the kids", so you should just stuff any objections you might have about having to put up with this tip-toe standing thing?
Like I said, your vision only goes as far as your own face, so it's awfully hard to envision that there are other people in this world who might be just as pissed as you would be, by the inconsideration of others.
The last time I looked every football field in L.A. county, and for that matter every State in the union is the same length and diameter... So if you're complaining because you're a fan... get over it... this game is about the kids playing in it, not the "kids" watching it...
Personally I'll be at a Wrestling Tournament anyway.. good luck La Serna...
Arrive early, guys, and enjoy the game. :-)
I have every confidence that the coach is making his decisions in the best interest of his team and that the school is backing him up. This is what they should do. But if you want to gripe, hey, don't let me stop you. Have yourself a field day.
Over 15,000 at the 2006 Santa Fe - Schurr Championship; over 10,000 at Walnut high for last year's Championship...and no room for even HALF that number at Cal High. There, buddy, I "went and figured."
L.A.,
It is criticism worthy when there is a Championship game and an expected large turn out. If Cal High, which is where LS plays their home games was a venue capable of seating atleast 10k guests it would be a non-issue. From what I have been told, they want to add in temporary bleachers to seat an additional 1500 fans on the visitor side. Bringing visitor seating compacity to roughly 3000. Does adding in bleachers increase parking? Or public safety? Or flow of traffic in and out of the area? What happens when all the seats are gone? Do we start filling up the home side grand stands? Do we stand around the field when some of us are bringing children?
It's not very sportsmanlike to insist on playing this game on your home field just because you can. The other factors leads this to being a very selfish decision.
But as I said earlier. It is what it is, the Bulldogs are ready to play anywhere, anyplace, anytime. And if us Bulldog fans have to stand for the entire game, our team will make sure we have something to jump up and down about all game long!
By insisting the game be held at Cal-Hi, La Serna is exhibiting its lack of experience in these things. Big time programs make big time decisions like seeking a proper venue for its team's biggest game in decades. Sure its all about the kids, but the kids deserve the experience of playing at a "step-up" venue.
I know I may sound like an "old guy" here, but in 1973, when Los Altos won its first CIF Championship they beat Santa Maria for the 3A ring at Mount Sac. The big field, press box, full stands added a great deal to the experience for all including the two teams involved.
The coach who wins the home-field coin toss wants to play ... on the team's home field. For this, he is criticized. Go figure.
After this banquet, they should have all taken a group tour of Cerritos College Stadium. Then, take a vote among the players and see who would choose Cal High instead. For as much good as Beltran has done for the La Serna program, he needs to understand that his support of the Cal High venue could undo a great deal of his hard-earned goodwill.