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What league was your HS in? Teams you played against?

  • I lived in the Long Beach Poly district when I was a boy. My dad and grandpa were Long Beach Poly fans for decades. They were also LBCC fans along with rooting for USC. In 1954 when I was 7 years old we moved to the Los Altos area of Long Beach. Millikan HS was being built.

    Millikan was in the Moore league in the Southern Section of CIF. Millikan's first year of football the varsity played the JV teams in the Moore league which included LB Poly, LB Wilson, LB Jordan and Lakewood.

    Mrs SColdtimer was a Pantherette at Jordan. There wasn't much to cheer about in those days for Jordan HS football.

    Lakewood was Millikan's rival. But the Lancers didn't beat Millikan for several years.

    Long Beach Poly and Wilson were huge rivals and would meet at Veteran's stadium every year. Many future Trojans played in the game. Dave Levy coached Long Beach Poly to CIF championships in 1958 and 1959.

    The mid 60's were glory years for the Moore League, LBCC and USC. LBCC's big rival was Bakersfield. USC and UCLA were playing good football in the mid 60's and produced Heisman Trophy winners in Garrett, Beban and Simpson. The LA Rams turned things around with players like Roman Gabriel, Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen.

    Those were great times for a football player and fans.

    This post was edited by oldtimescfan on 5/22/2012 at 4:25 PM

    oldtimescfan

  • We were in the mission league. For football we played against Notre Dame, Chaminade, Harvard-Westlake, and Alemany. For other sports you could add Crespi and Loyola. I think that has all changed now.

    westcoastfball

  • Del rey league at one point had serra, crespi, harvard west lake, cathedral, bosco tech we got murdered every game

    POLYTROJAN14765

  • Redlands HS played in the old Citrus Belt League along with Fontana, AB Miller, Eisenhower, Redlands East Valley, and Rialto. Not sure how it's configured now.

    sherrifofsc

  • in the late 90s, Santa Margarita was in the Sea View League, which included Trabuco Canyon, Newport Harbor, Corona Del Mar, and El Toro.

    My frosh year (with Carson at the helm), we went 9-0-1...with a shocking tie to CDM.

    Anyone remember Carson's last game in Dec '97 against DeShaun Foster? I think Foster ran for over 200 yards and several scores, and Carson threw for over 400 yards and 4-5 TDs.

    This post was edited by TrojanEconomist on 5/22/2012 at 9:26 AM

    signature image

    Nickell Robey Fan Club Member "Coach, I don't mean any disrespect, but I want you to know I never get tired." -- Morgan Breslin

    TrojanEconomist

  • Capo Valley HS, when we were strong and nationaly ranked as high as #3 in the mid 90s (and before, but pretty horrible the year my class left and pretty much every year since. sucks )

    Handing beatings out to Mission Viejo, Trabuco and Dana Hills in the South Coast League.
    brutal battles vs San Clemente and Mater Dei who ended up #1 in the nation in 96'

    Great times!

    Pitzrrr

  • Pitzrrr said...

    Capo Valley HS, when we were strong and nationaly ranked as high as #3 in the mid 90s (and before, but pretty horrible the year my class left and pretty much every year since. sucks )

    Handing beatings out to Mission Viejo, Trabuco and Dana Hills in the South Coast League. brutal battles vs San Clemente and Mater Dei who ended up #1 in the nation in 96'

    Great times!

    I was in physical therapy with one of your great warriors, and Trojan great Malaefou MacKenzie.

    I assume his class was one of your last great ones?

    Such a great guy. I'll never forget the first time I saw him...and realized his calf muscles were significantly larger than my thighs. flex

    signature image

    Nickell Robey Fan Club Member "Coach, I don't mean any disrespect, but I want you to know I never get tired." -- Morgan Breslin

    TrojanEconomist

  • oldtimescfan said...

    I lived in the Long Beach Poly district when I was a boy. My dad and grandpa were Long Beach Poly fans for decades. They were also LBCC fans along with rooting for USC. In 1954 when I was 7 years old we moved to the Los Altos area of Long Beach. Millikan HS was being built.

    Millikan was in the Moore league in the Southern Section of CIF. Millikan's first year of football the varsity played the JV teams in the Moore league which included LB Poly, LB Wilson, LB Jordan and Lakewood.

    Mrs SColdtimer was a Pantherette at Jordan. There wasn't much to cheer about in those days for Jordan HS football.

    Lakewood was Millikan's rival. But the Lancers didn't beat Millikan for several years.

    Long Beach Poly and Wilson were huge rivals and would meet at Veteran's stadium every year. Many future Trojans played in the game. Dave Levy coached Long Beach Poly to CIF championships in 1958 and 1959.

    The mid 60's were glory years for the Moore League, LBCC and USC. LBCC's big rival was Bakersfield. USC and UCLA were playing good football in the mid 60's and produced Heisman Trophy winners in Garrett, Beban and Simpson. The LA Rams turned things around with players like Roman Gabriel, Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen.

    Those were great times for a football player and fan.

    Go Rams!
    +1

    signature image

    TrojanWarrior1 ●

  • lol Frontier League. Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ojai, Moorpark, etc...bunch of rancher/farm boys, lol. As close to a midwest town feel you will ever find in Southern California. A lot of filming here, because my home town looked a lot like any "small town America."

    We didn't win big much, but EVERYONE and their dogs showed up for every game, our colors were cardinal red and white. Always loved that color. peace

    signature image

    "Here are provided seats of meditative joy, where shall rise again the destined reign of Troy." Virgil

    usctrojan1

  • TrojanEconomist said...

    I was in physical therapy with one of your great warriors, and Trojan great Malaefou MacKenzie.

    I assume his class was one of your last great ones?

    Such a great guy. I'll never forget the first time I saw him...and realized his calf muscles were significantly larger than my thighs.

    Yup, same year. Grew up with him since 7th grade.
    blocked for him in H.S.

    He wanted to be the next Junior Seau, his idol. Wanted NO part of Running Back. (but our LB core was set, Charlie Landrigan was the South Coast D POY, and we needed his talent at RB) So the coaches convinced him to run the ball one time in our 1st H.S. game vs LB Wilson (or was it LB Jordan) 95 yard run, blowing up everyone and running past everyone.
    Jaws hit the ground. Stayed at RB.

    Saw him on Saturday at a family BBQ.
    My brother in law is his fire captain in Long Beach.
    I think he got burned pretty bad in a fire last year. As you know, hes fine though.

    This post was edited by Pitzrrr on 5/22/2012 at 12:30 PM

    Pitzrrr

  • I went to Foothill High School graduated in 1990. Foothill was a powerhouse when I was in gradeschool and Jr High with SC dudes like Katnik and Joe Walshe. El Modena that produced SC guys like Rex Moore Don Gibson

    http://articles.latimes.com/1992-08-20/sports/sp-6320_1_craig-gibson

    would battle for the Century Leauge every year and met a few times in the CIF 4A title game at the Big A ( they seemed to play 2 times a year..every year..cool scene around my neighborhood) . So those were the neighborhood heroes when we all plyed pop warner. Lots of talent in OC then ....anyone remember the Bell brothers at Edison ( that was when I was very little) Dino and Kerwin...I recall Dino running all over USC one year and Kansas beating us 28-20 at the Coliseum in a huge upset..Never figured out how USC passed on Dino ...guy was good.

    http://www2.ljworld.com/news/1999/mar/01/dino_bell_changed_his/

    Anyways...

    The Century Leauge was
    Tustin
    Foothill
    Santa Ana
    Santa Ana Valley
    Villa Park
    Canyon
    Orange

    The CIF 4A winner came out of the Century Leauge 4 out of 6 titmes in the early 80's
    Southern Conference

    1985 Santa Ana

    1984 El Modena

    1983 El Modena

    1982 Los Altos

    1981 Foothill

    1980 Lynwood

    The year I started HS..Orange -Tustin as they each used to get beat down pretty good and dropped down a divison to 3A and into the Sea View leauge I think ( this was around the time Tustin HS started to became pretty good actually) ..our enrollment declined to 1200 students by 89... but somehow we stayed up playing against schools with twice our enrollment. 5 A schools alot as well from the Sunset Leauge.

    I played against Capo Valley ( with Marinovich) - Los Alamito's ( when they were a powerhouse..shit load of D1 guys on that team) Santa Ana ( powerhouse...bunch of talent that never did much after college....guys got in trouble or hurt ...in college ..but in HS they were just sick though..) Riverside Poly.beat them pretty good. Marina..( with some kick ass lB D1 guy ok it was ..David McLeod Southern Illinois ) Westminster when they were #1 in OC in 1986 or so..had a guy Ray Smith. great talent ...WTF happened to him Best LB in OC in 1986...better than Scott Ross

    LINEBACKERS

    Brian Malavar: The Saxons recorded six shutouts with Malavar in the lineup. He had 38 lead tackles, 32 assists, a sack, a blocked punt and 2 interceptions. He also scored three touchdowns, returning two blocked punts and an interception. "Brian is equally accomplished at playing the run or the pass," said Loara Coach Herb Hill. He's also an outstanding wrestler. Malavar finished fourth at the Southern Section championships in the 168-pound division as a junior.

    Scott Ross: He led the team with 61 lead tackles, 53 assists, 2 caused fumbles and had a fumble recovery. "Scott is that typical linebacker that you dream about coaching," said El Toro Coach Bob Johnson. "He thrives on football. He's an ornery player, and a hitter deluxe." The three-year starter is being recruited by USC, UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State.

    Ray Smith: A second-team selection as a sophomore, Smith was the team's leading tackler with 67 and had 45 assists. He also caused two fumbles and intercepted two passes. "He was far and away our best defensive player," said Westminster co-coach Jack Bowman. "He's very physical and a great hitter." Smith, only 16, also competes on the Lions' basketball team and puts the shot for the track team

    ....knew the El Toro guys pretty well especially Rob Johnson ..they had Stenstrom - and both Johnsons 3 years in a row ..( 2 NFL QBS in 3 years and all 3 D1 starters)

    My Freshman team actually went 8-1 and beat Bisop Amat by 21..and lost to Santa Ana on a hail mary 50 yard tipped pass with OC athlete of the year Oscar Wilson ( who won it 3 years in a row starting as a Sophmore) who lucked out and caught it to defeat us at the last game ( they went 9-0 ). Oscar was an old basketball teamate and a great guy..I think he played at CSU Northridge and with the GB Packers for a minute or something.
    http://articles.latimes.com/1989-12-13/sports/sp-378_1_tim-manning

    .Alot of guys began to focus on one sport or get into surfing or whatever and stopped playing football ..so our team lost alot of talent ..we did have a NFL'r Jamal Duff as one of our LBs ..who was on the Giants Bears and Raiders..and a good friend Hairston at LB ( UC DAVIS) who made the final cut with the Denver Bronco's. Of course we had some D1 guys some panned out..some didn't and a bunch of JC and DII guys( About half of UC DAVIS it seemed..hahah) that played a bit. Good talent in Tustin-Santa Ana ( Mater Dei used to try recruit all our talent away...bastards)

    Jamal Duff was a NFL journeyman for 5-6 seasons but you all know him as a movie star ( MeShelle from the Movie Dodgeball ...hahha). Good dude. Lots of good times growing up with J-Maul ! But his mom NEVER let him go out on the weekends ( guess it paid off !!!)

    Growing up and playing sports in OC ( mostly AAU hoops) I played with and knew alot of the guys from those days Rob and Brett Johnson. Danny O Neil from CDM and Mater Dei ( Oregon Rose Bowl QB)..The Johnson twins that played at UCLA were good friends and Mater Dei ( Oregon Rose Bowl QB) ..all the Santa Ana guys..Tuoti ( who signed with SC as a LB..but had grade issues) and his brother and good friend Danny Tuoti. .Marinovich..best guy I ever played against. Amazing ..beat us 31-3 my first varsity game when I was a Soph...welcome to the varsity Icky.....here's robo-QB to make you look stupid...Damn..he was that good.
    That was brutal

    Hell all kinds of freaking people. I played a year at Fullerton JC before blowing out both shoulders again..and giving it all up ... so there were plenty of guys there that went on to D1 schools...Rob Coombs was the best guy I recall ...he played TE at Pitt I recall...but both of our linebackers went to USC and UCLA...I couldn't get by Rob Coombs on a pass rush..very frustrating..long freaking arms.....

    Good times for sure
    Here's Jamal Duff Foothill Knight from the movies and with the Giants..ahhaha..#79 ( WTF..thats old #48 ) in some movie. Yeah hitting in LB practice ( he became a DE in college) against him was daily headache ..made us all better though.

    I recall when I was in Jr High.... Foothill played Long Beach Poly ...just a non leauge game..
    The Jackrabbits pretty much kicked Fotthillls ass up and down the field though..too much speed and talent for our little white boy school..hahahahah but we had some tough kids and great coaches so we did OK..even if we were slow..hahahah .Yeah I recall that LB Poly game being pretty brutal game for all the guys we as kids used to look up too. Hahhaah

    This post has been edited 15 times, most recently by icky trojan on 5/22/2012 at 12:31 PM

    attachmentattachmentattachment
    signature image signature image signature image

    Feelings get hurt, best not to have any! DESTROY!

    icky trojan

  • LA City Northern League, 3A, graduated in '84 from Eagle Rock High. Other teams in the league Marshall, Belmont, Wilson, Lincoln, Franklin, Roosevelt, Garfield. That all got rearranged later. We sucked at football all the years I was there and no one I know every played anywhere of significance. Basketball, which I played, had a couple of decent years but we were really short. Out of league, we played Fairfax, Westchester, Glendale, Hoover (Glendale), and a few others. Played against guys like Chris Mills, Sean Higgins, Ken Norton, Jr., Rich Grande (USC), Joe Hillman (Indiana)......

    TrojanTW

  • usctrojan1 said...

    lol Frontier League. Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ojai, Moorpark, etc...bunch of rancher/farm boys, lol. As close to a midwest town feel you will ever find in Southern California. A lot of filming here, because my home town looked a lot like any "small town America."

    We didn't win big much, but EVERYONE and their dogs showed up for every game, our colors were cardinal red and white. Always loved that color. peace

    I believe you forgot Cuyama and New Cuyama. Why in the hell is there a Cuyama let alone a New Cuyama?!!?

    Anyone who has ever driven the back way from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield route166 will know what I'm talking about.lol

    This post was edited by TrojanWarrior1 on 5/22/2012 at 10:49 AM

    signature image

    TrojanWarrior1 ●

  • Downey High School (So glad Ruffin went there and chose USC)

    Warren, Dominguez, Paramount, Gahr, Lynwood.

    Never a powerhouse in football but always a respectable program

    signature image

    TrojanEddie

  • Carson High School we were in the Marine League at the time with Banning, Narbonne, San Pedro, Gardena, Washington, Crenshaw and Dorsey.

    ish4510

  • TrojanEddie said...

    Downey High School (So glad Ruffin went there and chose USC)

    Warren, Dominguez, Paramount, Gahr, Lynwood.

    Never a powerhouse in football but always a respectable program

    Eddie my mom and uncle were Downey Vikings ..I think Natty was too..( I think he told me that..IDK)
    They were a big time powerhouse..in the 1950's..hahah..check it out though..their coach Dick Hill ..coached at Santa Ana HS and won titles for them 30 years later when I played ( he coached my friends brothers to titles in the 1970's at Santa Ana Valley too) ..great coach. Winningest coach in CIF history I think. Something like that.

    I used to hear my mom tell me all the stories of Downey High kicking everyones ass in the 1950's and playing in the CIF title game at the Coliseum ( they tied Anaheim...how do they have a tie after playoffs???)

    Dream game still alive
    Anaheim-Downey continues to stir up memories 50 years later.
    JEFF MILLER
    Register columnist
    jmiller@ocregister.com

    The kid, just a teenager, trotted through the tunnel and into the Coliseum, into the noise and presence of who knows how many thousand fans, the moment rising sharply from inside out. All the way out.

    "The goosebumps you had," Mickey Flynn says, "all doubled at once."

    About the same time, another kid, another teenager, had a similar experience. Similar in action, but a more poignant reaction, one that really illustrated the phrase all the way out. Ron Russell wet his pants.

    "Just a little," he says. "But you don't have to put that in the paper."

    Sorry, Ron, after 50 years all truths must be told about a football game that still sounds mythical.

    Anaheim High and Downey High were draped in a heavy fog the night of Dec.14, 1956. Five decades later, their 13-13 tie seems no less surreal.

    This post has been edited 2 times, most recently by icky trojan on 5/22/2012 at 11:03 AM

    Lash's Place

    http://www.lashsplace.com/dream_game.html

    www.lashsplace.com

    PREP EXTRA : Now, Saints Are Over the Hill - Los Angeles Times

    Take a memo.\o7 To: Santa Ana High School officials.From: A casual observer.Subject: Chickens come home to roost.\f7Face it guys, you blew it. You fired a legend. Dick Hill, \o7 the\f7 winningest

    articles.latimes.com
    signature image signature image signature image

    Feelings get hurt, best not to have any! DESTROY!

    icky trojan

  • Channel League.

    Upvotes for everybody.

    peace

    signature image signature image

    PabloF

  • TrojanEddie said...

    Downey High School (So glad Ruffin went there and chose USC)

    Warren, Dominguez, Paramount, Gahr, Lynwood.

    Never a powerhouse in football but always a respectable program

    Three of my girls graduated from Warren and one is currently a sophomore.

    My second oldest graduated with Jesse Callier who is now at UDub....

    TrojanTW

  • TrojanTW said...

    Three of my girls graduated from Warren and one is currently a sophomore.

    My second oldest graduated with Jesse Callier who is now at UDub....

    Gramps lived at 6th and Reaves ( where my mom grew up ) until he passed in 95...I think that became Warren HS area after they built it in the early 60's, now that I think about it my uncle went there after going to Downey I recall.
    Seemed like a great place to grow up ...Troy Bill's from around there I know.

    This post was edited by icky trojan on 5/22/2012 at 11:50 AM

    signature image signature image signature image

    Feelings get hurt, best not to have any! DESTROY!

    icky trojan

  • TrojanEconomist said...

    in the late 90s, Santa Margarita was in the Sea View League, which included Trabuco Canyon, Newport Harbor, Corona Del Mar, and El Toro.

    My frosh year (with Carson at the helm), we went 9-0-1...with a shocking tie to CDM.

    Anyone remember Carson's last game in Dec '97 against DeShaun Foster? I think Foster ran for over 200 yards and several scores, and Carson threw for over 400 yards and 4-5 TDs.

    I think that game still holds the record for most points scored by both teams in the CIF finals. I could be wrong but I thought I read that someplace.

    KiffinisKing

  • icky trojan said...

    Gramps lived at 6th and Reaves ( where my mom grew up ) until he passed in 95...I think that became Warren HS area after they built it in the early 60's, now that I think about it my uncle went there after going to Downey I recall. Seemed like a great place to grow up ...Troy Bill's from around there I know.

    Yea, that's Warren area now. The dividing line is La Reina, which is between Paramount and Downey Ave. 6th and Rives is a great area. In fact, that entire area is nice. Two of my kids went to elementary at Rio Hondo which is on 7th and Rives.

    I'm sure your mom hung out at Johny's Drive-In on Firestone. Ask her if she knows that it reopened as a Bob's Big Boy a couple years ago....

    TrojanTW

  • I played in the olde Angelus League. My school (Pius X) and St. Anthony's of Long Beach were the class clowns of the league, and usually played for the right to be 0-5 vs 1-4. Except for those magical 2 seasons when that Darrin Nelson kid showed up.

    The 4 teams that regularly kicked our asses were:
    St. Paul of Santa Fe Springs
    Bishop Amat of West Covina
    Servite of Anaheim
    Mater Dei of Santa Ana.

    usc2k11

  • icky trojan said...

    Eddie my mom and uncle were Downey Vikings ..I think Natty was too..( I think he told me that..IDK) They were a big time powerhouse..in the 1950's..hahah..check it out though..their coach Dick Hill ..coached at Santa Ana HS and won titles for them 30 years later when I played ( he coached my friends brothers to titles in the 1970's at Santa Ana Valley too) ..great coach. Winningest coach in CIF history I think. Something like that.

    I used to hear my mom tell me all the stories of Downey High kicking everyones ass in the 1950's and playing in the CIF title game at the Coliseum ( they tied Anaheim...how do they have a tie after playoffs???)

    Dream game still alive Anaheim-Downey continues to stir up memories 50 years later. JEFF MILLER Register columnist jmiller@ocregister.com

    The kid, just a teenager, trotted through the tunnel and into the Coliseum, into the noise and presence of who knows how many thousand fans, the moment rising sharply from inside out. All the way out.

    "The goosebumps you had," Mickey Flynn says, "all doubled at once."

    About the same time, another kid, another teenager, had a similar experience. Similar in action, but a more poignant reaction, one that really illustrated the phrase all the way out. Ron Russell wet his pants.

    "Just a little," he says. "But you don't have to put that in the paper."

    Sorry, Ron, after 50 years all truths must be told about a football game that still sounds mythical.

    Anaheim High and Downey High were draped in a heavy fog the night of Dec.14, 1956. Five decades later, their 13-13 tie seems no less surreal.

    Glad to hear there are fellow Vikings out there!! I graduated in 98 and didn't know the history of the football at Downey. When I was there football was never a powerhouse and it's good to hear that they were in the past. I was just a dumb kid who never really got into the history and had other things on my mind back then. I always love going back to visit though and seeing the kids these days. When Jabari said he was coming to USC it was one of those special moments as a Trojan fan and Viking alumni that I will never forget! FIGHT ON!

    signature image

    TrojanEddie

  • TrojanTW said...

    Yea, that's Warren area now. The dividing line is La Reina, which is between Paramount and Downey Ave. 6th and Rives is a great area. In fact, that entire area is nice. Two of my kids went to elementary at Rio Hondo which is on 7th and Rives.

    I'm sure your mom hung out at Johny's Drive-In on Firestone. Ask her if she knows that it reopened as a Bob's Big Boy a couple years ago....

    Spent many a drunken Friday night bowling just down the street from Johnnies at Wonder-Bowl. 64 Beautiful Air-Conditioned Lanes.

    usc2k11

  • TrojanTW said...

    Three of my girls graduated from Warren and one is currently a sophomore.

    My second oldest graduated with Jesse Callier who is now at UDub....

    Man I loved the Downey vs Warren rivalry!! Never great teams when I was there but always were great games between the 2 rivals!!

    signature image

    TrojanEddie

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