Sure-Fire Signals That Fall Is in the Air

In this place where the leaves on the trees don’t change colors and then fall down, where there isn’t a nip in the air followed by frost and then snow, thank goodness for the sound of a foot hitting a leather football, of helmet hitting helmet, of pads hitting pads, of the grunts and the spitting. Thank goodness for the bands with the loud brass sections and pleated wool skirts. Yes, cheerleaders still wear pleated wool skirts.

Some things are the same wherever high school football is played.

It was opening night of the prep football season and here was the idea. Go to a high school game. Or two. OK, make that three. Three games. A little buffet. Feel them, hear them. Breathe them, taste them. For a quarter anyway. Then drive.

Start at Irvine High where the University Trojans are playing the Irvine Vaqueros. Buy Dietrich’s Coffee and Rubino’s pizza at the concession stands we are all implored. Hmmm. Designer food at the high school concession stands?

Junior Peter Abe, a small, compact running back, sneaks off, almost undetected, for a 28-yard run at the end of the first quarter to help Irvine on its way to its first score of the season, a field goal. To score first was great. But the Vaqueros had driven to the University two-yard line. The field goal not a total triumph.

How would things continue? It’s tempting to grab a cup of coffee and slice of pizza, but it’s time to leave.

The drive is 10 miles. The destination is Santa Ana Stadium. The parking charge of $5 seems a little steep for the carloads of kids who are still arriving at halftime.

It is a different feeling here. No designer coffee and the first sound you hear as part of the halftime entertainment is the summer hit song “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”

Rancho Alamitos is leading host Santa Ana Valley, 15-6, at the break and there is grumbling from the home folks who are stuck in a long line at the only concession stand that is open.

In the middle of the third quarter senior Miguel Guerrero turns a quarterback keeper into a 23-yard touchdown for the Falcons. The score is now 15-13 and many of the Falcons point their fingers to the sky, then turn to the stands and point again toward Frankie Oviedo. Frankie, 40, is working security for Santa Ana Valley and his eyes have filled with tears. The team is honoring Frankie’s brother, Henry.

Less than a month ago, Henry, who had been a Falcons assistant coach as well as a Santa Ana police officer, died of leukemia. For more than a year Henry fought the disease, Frankie says. Henry lost his eyesight and his strength but never his love of football, Frankie says.

Before Thursday night’s game, unknown to Frankie, Falcon players gathered on the field and formed the letters “H” and “O”, his brother’s initials. Henry, who was 42 and the father of 14-year-old and 4-year-old daughters, had played nose guard for Santa Ana High and then Santa Ana College. “Henry was All-CIF in 1974,” Frankie says. “He played in every Copper Bowl until his diagnosis.” The Copper Bowl is a football game played at the stadium between policemen. “Full pads, hitting, the whole works,” Frankie says. “My brother loved the game and he loved teaching it to these kids.

“I told these kids out here that Henry has the best seat in the house tonight. They all came to the funeral. They told me they were going to point to Henry after every touchdown.”

With the Falcons back in the game it was time to head for the final stop of the night, Tustin High.

This was the rivalry game. The host Tillers against Foothill. The parking lot is packed and you can hear the crowd of more than 2,000 from blocks away. But during the search for a parking spot, Tustin scores. It must have, because the PA announcer shouts, “Tillers 40, Foothill 8.”

By the end of the third quarter, Tustin running back Branden Malcom has gained 161 yards and scored four touchdowns.

“My first four-touchdown game,” the senior says afterward. The Tillers had lost to Servite 35-19 last week. That game was extra-early, an exception being made in the schedule since Servite has moved to the new, all-Catholic Serra League. It was a loss that didn’t sit well with the Tillers. “We’re better than that,” Tustin Coach Myron Miller says at the end. “We may not have the depth of the Catholic schools, but I’ll put our top seven against anybody.”

While his teammates are laughing and celebrating, the second and third-stringers are on the field and Malcom is standing alone, watching the backups and rooting them on. Ricky Miller, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound sophomore defensive end, breaks free for a touchdown and afterward Coach Miller will say that Ricky Miller will eventually be the top-recruited defensive player in Orange County.

But this night belongs to Malcom, a senior with a 3.5 grade-point average and the SAT scores to qualify for an NCAA Division I football scholarship. But Malcom says he is not thinking about college football now. “I’m only thinking about this season,” Malcom says. “That’s all that matters.”

And, by the way, Irvine did beat University, 17-7.

Frankie Oviedo went home happy, too. Santa Ana Valley came back to beat Rancho Alamitos 25-21. Guerrero ended up running for two touchdowns and passing for the winning score in the fourth quarter. Frankie was right. Henry had the best seat in the house.

Diane Pucin can be reached at her e-mail address: diane.pucin@latimes.com