Time for Garfield to seize the Invitational moment

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With the abrupt dismissal of top-seeded Eagle Rock by Huntington Park, the City Invitational playoffs are wide open with a capital ‘WIDE.’

Or maybe not.

I’ve had the feeling all season that Garfield is still seething about losing the Invitational championship game last year to Eagle Rock on that freak fumble that Eagles defensive back Josh Jovenally caught in mid-air and returned for the winning touchdown.

Garfield (8-3), the No. 2 seed this year, has the clearest path to the Dec. 7 final. The biggest obstacle in its half of the bracket is Fairfax (7-4), which has the offensive talent to give the Bulldogs trouble. They would meet in the semifinals, provided Garfield defeats El Camino Real (5-6) and Fairfax beats South East (8-3) in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

I expect Garfield and Fairfax to win. I also expect North Hollywood (8-3) to defeat Huntington Park (6-5) and Franklin (8-3) to defeat University (7-4).

-- MIke Terry