75th Roosevelt-Garfield game is ready to go

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Enough of the pregame hype.

It’s time to play some football at East Los Angeles College, where a crowd of 20,000 is expected for the 75th meeting between Los Angeles Roosevelt and Los Angeles Garfield. There were 10,000 in the bleachers 90 minutes before kickoff to watch the end of the freshman-sophomore game.

There’s a reason it has become known as the East L.A. Classic. Dedicated alumni from around the country return to watch dual homecoming festivities. But as soon as the opening kickoff takes place, it’s Bulldogs vs. Roughriders, and there’s no neutrality. The music is loud, the fans are fired up and if you got a parking spot, you’re feeling good. And the schools stand to make $30,000 each, which is badly needed money.

Roosevelt (7-1, 4-0) is the home team, and its fans are sitting on the press box side and hoping to celebrate clinching at least a share of the Eastern League championship with a win. Garfield (4-4, 2-2) is trying to help itself secure a decent seeding in the City Section Division I playoffs.

I’ll be bringing you all the details. Roosevelt leads the series, 39-29-6.

-- Eric Sondheimer