I’ve finally become a Nordhoff believer

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All season, I’ve been trying to find excuses for not believing in Nordhoff. When the Rangers beat Carpinteria, I thought the Warriors must have had an off-night. And when they defeated Oak Park, I placed more blame on the Eagles losing than giving the Rangers credit for winning.

And when they got the Tri-Valley League‘s top playoff seeding, I thought they were, perhaps, the most undeserving seeded team in the division.

However, thanks to the Rangers’ dramatic, 42-41 double-overtime victory over Compton Centennial, they have proven me and all their other doubters wrong. Nordoff is just as good as it’s ever been -- and, no, I didn’t forget about the great teams the Rangers had in 1996, 1999 and 2003-05.

I know Nordhoff is definitely going to have its hands full in the semifinals against Pirate-slayers St. Bernard on Saturday, but the Rangers have beaten better teams. I’ll be cheering for Nordhoff in this one because it would be great to see an all Tri-Valley League final.

So, after 12 weeks of football, I’ve finally become a Nordhoff believer. The Rangers are definitely a contender for what would be their first divisional title.

-- Austin Knoblauch