Column: Garfield defeats Roosevelt, 42-7, in East L.A. Classic

For all the changes taking place in high school football — the rise of transfers, the reliance on walk-on coaches, the increasing emphasis on college recruiting, the pressure to win a championship at all costs — there’s still those special moments that take you back to a different time and a different era. A time when it’s friend competing against friend and the whole neighborhood comes out to participate in a game that’s about pride, bragging rights and spirit in its truest form.

Welcome to the East L.A. Classic, where the 80th meeting Friday night between Garfield and Roosevelt at East Los Angeles College offered glimpses of Los Angeles’ past and future like no other. And Garfield fans, in particular, enjoyed every minute of a 42-7 victory.

From little kids dressed in red and gold Roosevelt shirts to grandmothers waving blue and white Garfield flags, this was a gathering that came to embrace the idea that community matters.

The minute you stepped into the stadium and smelled the aroma of hot dogs, onions and tacos simmering on the grills of various food booths, you knew fasting all day was the right idea. Tailgating is overrated after going to the East L.A. Classic. There were candy apples covered with M&M’s, pretzels covered with chocolate, churros, freshly squeezed lemonade, burritos big enough to feed two people.

There were balloons, buttons and beanies everywhere. The song “Who Let the Dogs Out?” kept getting plenty of attention from Bulldogs fans. There were marching bands, drill teams bigger than some varsity squads and double crowning of queens.

“It’s an amazing event because it’s deeply rooted in a tradition that’s grown up at both schools,” said Garfield Coach Lorenzo Hernandez.

During the week, there were festivities almost every day, from spirit events to a beef bowl. Garfield administrators joked that “we have to renegotiate the contract after the game” of Hernandez. Forget that he had won four in a row going in.

His real pressure comes from his wife, Martha, a Garfield grad.

“I may have to sleep outside,” he said.

Not after Friday’s performance. Garfield (8-2, 6-0) had already locked up the Eastern League championship and Roosevelt (5-5, 3-3) was trying to improve its Division I playoff hopes, but not playing for a title didn’t deter fans from showing up by the thousands. There were more than 15,000 in attendance, more than show up for a City Section championship game. They don’t just come from Boyle Heights and East L.A. They come from Alhambra, Montebello, Pico Rivera and just about anywhere a Garfield or Roosevelt alumnus lives.

Garfield quarterback Stevie Williams was the standout in the first half and in the game. He had touchdown passes of 58 yards to Deion Washington and 29 yards to Cleo Session and ran 63 yards and 31 yards for scores. He finished with three scoring passes. Garfield led at the half, 33-0.

The City playoff pairings will be announced Saturday. If Garfield makes it to the Coliseum on Dec. 6, expect its fans to come out en masse.