Football: Garfield moves up to top division

In the City Section, schools have a choice -- to play in the City Championship Division or the City Invitational. Garfield has played football for years in the Invitational but has decided to take on the big boys. The Bulldogs are moving to the Championship Division this fall. They should be congratulated.

"We're scared," Coach Lorenzo Hernandez said. "No, I'm joking.  It's a question thrown around a lot. Why don't certain teams move up? We're confident playing anybody will make us better."

The Bulldogs will get an immediate idea of where they stand by opening the season on Sept. 4 against defending City champion Birmingham.

Hamilton is also making the move up to the Championship Division.

Here's the complete rundown of teams separated by divisions in the City Section.

Championship: Crenshaw, Dorsey, Fremont, Locke, Banning, Carson, Gardena, Narbonne, San Pedro, Washington, Hamilton, Venice, Westchester, Garfield, Jordan, Kennedy, San Fernando, Sylmar, Birmingham, Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Taft.

Invitational: Jefferson, Manual Arts, Fairfax, University, Bell, Huntington Park, Roosevelt, South East, South Gate, Belmont, Eagle Rock, Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall, Wilson, Bernstein, Contreras, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Santee, West Adams, Arleta, Canoga Park, Grant, North Hollywood, Poly, Van Nuys, Verdugo Hills, Monroe, Panorama, Reseda, Cleveland, El Camino Real.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Comments

[Al]

This program should be praised. Look at their upcoming schedule and you'll see these guys mean business. How else are you going to improve if you don't take on the heavyweights of football. They remind me of St. Paul. Wow!

Roosevelt take notes. Are you going to let the Bulldogs run over you again and again? Man up and move up. Which goes for Eagle Rock, too. Good programs because of the competition they face. Makes me sick.

[Henry Miranda]

What a great move. I give the Garfield team all of the respect in the world for moving up. I also commend the coach and his staff. Because you have to know that these guys will go into both giant games(Birmingham and St. Paul) with the kids in the area. They do not have open enrollment and guys falling on thier lap like Birmingham. They also are not a private shool like St. Paul that can have top guys check in and play right away. So, that is something that I respect and know that GHS will leave off the field regardless of what the outcome is saying yup and we did it with our guys!!!

[No Limits]

It wasn't too long ago that GHS was in the championship bracket, Welcome Back!