Life lessons in football can’t be diagrammed

There was a Hollywood High freshman football player in tears at Cerritos College on Saturday after the team lost to Belmont in the City Section Division III championship game.

Senior quarterback David Rothenberg put his arm around his teammate to console him and said, “It’s OK. You’ve got three years ahead.”

If you want to see the magic of football and how teenagers can be transformed over an entire season, examine how the winners and losers act when so much is at stake.

At Angel Stadium late Saturday night, after the Pac-5 Division championship game, the star running back from Corona Centennial, J.J. Taylor, was graciously greeted by the star running back from Bellflower St. John Bosco, Sean McGrew. Taylor’s team won, 62-52, but they shook hands and hugged. McGrew, the Gatorade state player of the year, demonstrated the kind of character he shows every time he steps onto a field. He plays hard, then recognizes life moves on.

Players are upset when they lose and happy when they win. But the mature ones show class in victory or defeat. At least many coaches try to teach their players that lesson.

“Sports teaches so much more than sports,” Belmont Coach Gregg Barden said. “It’s life lessons. It teaches you how to handle disappointment as well as success.”

Rothenberg didn’t have his best game, but he almost couldn’t play. His Achilles tendon was stepped on by a cleat in the previous game. He was on crutches Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. He played the entire championship game in pain.

“It hurts,” he said afterward, finally showing a limp that he tried to hide in a 24-7 loss.

He refused to blame his injury for any of his mistakes, which included three interceptions.

“I’m not going to miss a championship game -- no way,” he said.

Hollywood Coach Frank Galvan marvels at the progress Rothenberg has made. During the summer of his first football season, if practice was at 8 a.m., Rothenberg would be there shortly before it began. If Galvan ever turned his head, he’d be goofing around with teammates.

By season’s end, Rothenberg was the first player showing up to practice an hour early. When Galvan turned his attention to helping the defense, Rothenberg would lead the offensive players through drills.

So it came as no surprise to see in a moment of agony for teammates, there was Rothenberg rising up like the true leader he had become to remind everyone how far they had come and not to lose sight of the future.

“His ankle was not 100%,” Galvan said. “He tweaked it but refused to come out of the game. He was trying to get the win for the seniors. He’s really grown a lot and I’m proud of him as an individual and football player.”

Win or lose, coaches always ask their players to do their best and remember the lessons taught over the many weeks of practices and games.

When that happens, it’s a special moment.

While some might not understand how a loss can really be a win, those who play football know the answer.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATSondheimer