“Who knows. I’m not a big prediction guy and I don’t think it’s the kind of game that sets the tone, but we do know we’re playing a team that sets the standard for high school football in Southern California. For us to play them gives us an idea of where we’re at and how much better we have to be. We’re not playing them wondering how good they’ll be, we know they’re good and will be well prepared.” – Amat coach Steve Hagerty on season home opener against Servite on Aug. 24.

Below: RB Dionza Blue was sensational in the recent Blue-Gold scrimmage.

By Fred J. Robledo, staff writer
Bishop Amat and many others will have played two football games prior to Labor Day weekend – a new twist to a season that could last 15 weeks because of extended playoffs for state bowl games after the CIF-Southern Section championship games are played.

That meant two-a-days started in early August for the Lancers, who open the season against perennial Southern Section power Servite at home on Aug. 24 at 7 p.m.

There have been triple-digit temperatures in Southern California since last week, making practice conditions brutal.

“We got through it,” said Lancers coach Steve Hagerty, sounding under the weather on Tuesday. “I don’t think anyone likes the weather being that hot, but everyone has to deal with it.

“I thought our guys handled it well. They worked hard and regardless of the circumstances, they did what we asked and ultimately we’ll be better for it.”

Bishop Amat was scheduled to scrimmage Upland on Friday in preparation for Servite, but the scrimmage was canceled because Upland had a conflict with the number of practice dates allowed before its season opener against Muir next week.

Amat is hoping to replace Upland with a scrimmage at North Hollywood’s Harvard-Westlake on Friday instead.

“We’re trying to work out the details with them (Harvard-Westlake),” Hagerty said. “It would be nice to get something in before our first game. But if we don’t, we just don’t, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Bishop Amat’s season and home opener against Servite is expected to pack Kiefer Stadium. But will the Lancers be more competitive than last year’s 49-14 blowout loss to Servite?

“Who knows,” Hagerty said. “I’m not a big prediction guy and I don’t think it’s the kind of game that sets the tone, but we do know we’re playing a team that sets the standard for high school football in Southern California. For us to play them gives us an idea of where we’re at and how much better we have to be.

“We’re not playing them wondering how good they’ll be, we know they’re good and will be well prepared.”

On a side note, John McKay Jr., a 1971 Amat alum, will be the guest speaker at Friday’s Amat TD Club kickoff dinner at Via Verde Country Club in San Dimas at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call 909-971-0052.