For the first time in the storied history of the annual Smudge Pot football game between rivals San Dimas and Bonita, the game will be played at Citrus College to kick off the 2011 season. San Dimas is the host of the Smudge Pot game this year, which has become the area’s biggest rivalry with thousands in attendance. Because the Saints are under contstruction for a new football stadium and field turf surface that’s scheduled to debut in the fall of 2012 — the Saints will play their home games on the road in 2011 at either Citrus, Mt. SAC or Bonita high school.
San Dimas’ first preference is to play as many of its home games at Citrus, which is also the home of Glendora, Azusa and Gladstone.
Saints coach Bill Zernickow has a meeting with Citrus officials in March to learn how many dates are available.
Zernickow said the Smudge Pot will either be played on Thursday or Saturday the week following Labor Day, with Thursday being his first preference.
“Citrus will be a great place for the Smudge Pot,” Zernickow said. “(Bonita coach Eric) Podley and I would love to see more than 10,000 at the game. A packed house at Citrus would be great.” Zernickow said he’s not too concerned with not having a game on campus in 2011. “I don’t think it will affect us much,” Zernickow said. “In the end we’re going to have the best football facility in the Valley, so it’s worth the wait.”