Croson: Birmingham not blase about City title game

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Birmingham has played in some ‘big’ games of late.

The top-seeded Patiots (12-1), who face second-seeded Carson (11-2) for the City championship on Friday night at the Coliseum, won titles in 2004 and 2006.

This season, they have knocked off Long Beach Poly and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, the first City team to defeat both Southern Section powers in the same season. There’s also the possibility Birmingham will qualify for the state Division I championship bowl game next Saturday at the Home Depot Center.

Coach Ed Croson, pictured with his players, was asked if there was any chance the Patriots won’t bring the same intensity to Friday’s as they have to any of their other games.

‘No,’ Croson said. ‘Among this group of players, only Milton Knox and a few others have seen any significant time in the City championship games. They know this time, it’s their game. And they know the life experience of playing in a place like the Coliseum is a big one.’

-- Mike Terry

-- Image by Lawrence K. Ho/ Los Angeles Times