Pep Rallies, Prayers Boost 2 City Teams Vying for Championships

Cheerleaders performed and students chanted “Beat the Eagles” during a special pep rally in honor of the football team at Ventura High School on Friday.

Down the street at St. Bonaventure High, football players knelt during Mass and prayed to hold onto their championship title.

The two Ventura high schools were gearing up for separate California Interscholastic Federation championship games tonight. And school spirit was peaking Friday afternoon on both campuses, where walls were covered with posters and halls abuzz with talk about the games.

In Division IV, Ventura High plays at Arroyo Grande High School in San Luis Obispo County. And in Division XI, St. Bonaventure plays Orange Lutheran High School at the Ventura High stadium. St. Bonaventure won the championship in 1996 and 1999, but Ventura High is up for its first football championship since tying Paso Robles nearly 50 years ago.

“It seems like we’re right in the hotbed of football,” said Ventura Mayor Sandy Smith, who played at Ventura High in the late 1960s.

If the seaside town hasn’t always rallied around high school football, this weekend gives dormant football fans the opportunity to come out to the stands and cheer on the players.

Assistant Chief Gary McCaskill, of the Ventura Police Department, said having two local teams in the championships is a great event for Ventura. McCaskill attended Ventura High’s game last week but is disappointed that this week’s game is so far away.

This season, Ventura High’s team has had an added lure for the crowds. Running back Tyler Ebell set the national single-season rushing record last week with 4,218 yards.

Assistant Fire Chief Mike Lavery follows Ventura High’s progress closely through news reports but hasn’t attended any games this year.

“That Ebell guy, what a tremendous feat,” Lavery said.

Dave Hess, one of Ventura High’s coaches, said Ebell’s performance has increased game turnout this year.

“When you have a running back setting records like Tyler Ebell has this year, a lot of people want to come and see him play,” he said.

During the pep rally, students playfully auctioned off a few of Ebell’s favorite belongings--a teddy bear wearing a UCLA Bruin sweater, a pair of boxers and the sunflower seed bag he had the night of his record-breaking game.

They also staged a skit during which Ventura’s cougar mascot knocked down Arroyo Grande’s mascot, the eagle. And the students broke out in applause when Hess announced, “We’re winning this game. We’re not going up there to lose.”

The school is sending four buses of fans to the game. Sophomore Aaron Sessions, 16, said he is excited to be playing on such a competitive team.

“I feel overwhelmed by all the attention we’re getting,” he said.

Though more subdued, excitement was also evident at St. Bonaventure. During Mass, the football team sat off to the side, hugging and patting each other on the backs. One of the students stood in front of a podium and offered a prayer.

“For our football team and their final contest tomorrow,” Briana Garcia said, “let us pray to the Lord.”

The team will have a prayer gathering today before the game. Senior Brandon Martinez said praying prepares him mentally for the game.

“We’re all real nervous,” he said, “but we’re ready to pound them.”

Martinez said he doesn’t know if there will be a big turnout at the game. “All that matters is that we win,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who shows up.”

But cornerback Jashaun McCowan expects a crowd at the local stadium because Ventura High’s game is so far away.

“Everyone from everywhere is coming to watch,” he said. “We’ve got to put on a show.”