BCCHS Football Goes Undefeated in League, Heading to Playoffs Against #2 Venice High School

Kimberly Castaneda, Sports Editor

“The first games have been difficult for them, but when we get to the league, we should see where we’re at,” said BCCHS Football Coach Jim Rose after preseason games concluded.  These words seemed prophetic as the Patriots then went undefeated in league play and then beat Cleveland High School 38-0 on Friday, October 28.  With the win against the Cavaliers, BCCHS finished the league with a perfect 5-0 record.

Going into the playoffs, BCCHS will be matched with the #2-ranked Venice High School Gondoliers in the Open Division of the CIF Los Angeles City Section. The Patriots will play the Gondoliers next Thursday, November 10, at 7 p.m. at Venice High School.

The Gondoliers also finished their league with a score of 5-0 and an overall score of 8-2. The Gondoliers lost to Edison High School (Huntington Beach) with a score of 48-13. They also took another loss against San Pedro High School 20-7.

The Patriots had a very close game against the Granada High School Highlanders 29-28. BCCHS also knocked off Chatsworth, El Camino, and Cleveland High Schools.

Birmingham’s football team started the pre-season against Royal High School. We took our first loss of the year by a score of  21-14.  “The first few games are always tough, but as long we come back and stay positive, then we’ll be good,” said #4 Jaden Shuler (12).  Shuler started playing football at Birmingham during his junior year. He is currently a senior and is looking forward to his last year in the league. These pre-season games have prepared Shuler along with the entire football team for league play.

Birmingham next played against Sherman Oaks Norte Dame High School. The Patriots started strong in the first quarter with a 7-0 point lead. However, Norte Dame came back in the second quarter and then dominated Birmingham with a score of 49-20. Highly-ranked Chaminade was the next school Birmingham played.

Football player Jaden Shuler (12th) posing for a picture after practice (Photo: Kimberly Castaneda)

Chaminade took the victory, with a one-sided score of 35-0. Westlake High School also took on Birmingham during their pre-season. and beat Birmingham 32-12.

Our final pre-season game was against Hueneme High School (Oxnard), and the Patriots took the win with a score of 28-14. Games like these motivated our Patriots to look forward to league games. After winning the West Valley League 5-0, Shuler said, “It felt really good after facing lots of adversity and starting the season 0-4. So many people were doubting us.”

Throughout the years, Birmingham’s football team has been L.A. City Champs (Open Division) seven times. Birmingham has been playing against tough teams in this year’s pre-season, but it helped us prepare for open-division playoffs.  Our football players have been getting ready for this year’s league all summer.

Shuler mentioned, “This summer we did lots of running and lifting, and building relationships with our new teammates.” Patriot teammate Peyton Waters (11) is a key player this year as Rose pointed him out as the most improved player. Waters started playing for Birmingham during the summer of his ninth-grade year. “Going to workouts five days a week. I’m trying to build good relationships to help us play better,” said Waters.

(11th) Peyton Waters posing for a picture after practice (Photo Kimberly Castaneda)

The League opener was Taft High School. Birmingham and Taft have been rivals for many years–Blue versus Red. “I think we will win, Taft hasn’t beaten us in 10 years. We show up in our blue uniforms and see them in red uniforms. Hopefully, we beat them by a lot” said Rose.

Coach Rose was correct as the Patriots beat Taft by the score of 47-0, and then went on to dominate the West Valley League.