Football: Garfield is nearing uncharted territory

Usually, the focus for Garfield fans is the rivalry game with Roosevelt. But this season, the Bulldogs are so close to making history. They’re one win away from a trip to the Coliseum to play in their first-ever City Section Division I championship game.

Standing in the way is powerful Narbonne. The two teams play on Friday night at 7 o’clock at Garfield.

“It’s the freaking world against us,” Garfield Coach Lorenzo Hernandez said. “I’ve always said in order to win a championship, you have to go through the Marine League or the Coliseum League.”

Garfield was given the No. 2 seed ahead of Narbonne, with some people questioning that decision. Now we’ll find out who was right. If Narbonne wins, it will be an all-Marine League championship game next Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Coliseum because the other semifinal on Friday has Carson playing at San Pedro.

The City Section is probably rooting for a Garfield-San Pedro final, because both schools have strong alumni and loyal fans.

“They’ll be laughing all the way to the bank,” Hernandez said.

Narbonne and Carson, however, will have something to say about that. Narbonne was the City title favorite from the beginning until a loss to Carson in league play sent the Gauchos down in rankings. Coach Manuel Douglas fixed the defense after that, and the Gauchos come in with lots of confidence.

Garfield, though, is well prepared and in its best health all season. The players know how to perform in big games after facing Roosevelt before more than 15,000 at East L.A. College.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer