Stephanie and I decided to dive right into the "deep end" of the 2014 football season. While visiting In San Diego, last weekend.
Football has always played a large role in our relationship, Stephanie was a High School cheerleader and I, a Team Captain at our Alma Mater Torrey Pines High School. We met on a "Friday Night" after a big Falcon Football win! This time we go to visit for our very own "Flashback" Friday Night Lights.
Our football "Jag" began on a Thursday night with a visit to the Cinepolis Luxury Cinema in Del Mar. Have you been to one of these? Imagine that, in your living room .....you had the comfiest, cool leather, electronic controlled "Lazy Boy" accessorized with dueling cold drink holders and an 360 adjustable glass "TV tray". Dolby Surround Sound and a 40 foot HD screen. Oh did I mention the waiter and full menu? I opted for the Diet Cola. For old times sake, I drank it through my own Red Vines Cherry Licorice straw. Yumm. It's 20 bucks to see a flick at the Cinepolis but the whole atmosphere really makes going to the movies an event!
Back to football....we saw the movie "When the Game Stands Tall" this is a story about a the nation's preeminent high school football team. The De La Salle Spartans, are from Concord, California. This private Catholic School once amassed an unprecedented 151 game winning streak. The movie is about the end of "the streak" and the bounce back from this crushing loss. Anyway, in my opinion it's a great movie! Jim Caviezel really delivers in his role as Head Coach, Bob Ladouceur.
Friday we had the pleasure of being invited to a High School game. Our dear friends Randy and Maria Goodson have a son who plays. Rhett, #22 is a tough Junior, for the La Costa Canyon Mavericks. The "Blue & Green Mavs" were matched against the Sea Kings of Corona Del Mar. The matchup was the kickoff opener for the SoCal edition of the "Brothers in Arms" HS Football Classic. This is a football tournament, fundraiser for military families. The games are televised and sponsored by athletic apparel giant, Under Armour.
The "White and Columbia Blue" Sea Kings of CDMHS, are ruling a streak of their own, 28 straight and the current 2013 Division III California State Champs. The Mavericks hung tough, played strong fundamental and well disciplined football. However were unable to match the speed and finesse in the loss to the reigning Sea Kings. Ironically the game was held at Cathedral Catholic HS, an awesome facility which is located in what I like to call, the "new Del Mar" because this was all scrub grass when I lived here in the 80's. This massive school is located just a few miles up the road from where Steph and I met TPHS.
Ed Burke Field, was our next stop. This stadium at Torrey Pines High, was just a big hole in the ground when we attended 30 years ago. It is now named after the man whom I had the pleasure of playing for, 21 year Falcon Head Coach, Ed Burke. I was also his TA my senior year. I will always remember what he told me on my very first day of Varsity Football practice in the fall of 82. "Torrey Pines is a great academic High School, we have some of the highest SAT Scores in the nation, but the best life class we teach here is Varsity Football'
The TPHS "Cardinal and Gold" Falcons were matched against Utah's Pleasant Grove Vikings. The birds hung tough and took a small first half lead against the bigger and faster "Royal and Grey" Vikings, however two big, 4th quarter plays iced it for the "Industry State's Vikes". It was a really exciting game and it was so fun to see my school's stadium packed with fans. The atmosphere made it so easy to remember the experience and excitement I felt playing under those Friday Night Lights.
Next up was Saturday's College opener SDSU Aztecs vs Northern AZ Lumberjacks. We were originally scheduled to leave San Diego on Saturday but we changed our plans to stay one more day to see the home opener at Qualcomm. This was Steph's idea and took a bit of "re-arranging". Sorry guys...don't mean to make you too jealous, but yeah my beautiful wife wanted stay another day so we could go to a college football game!!!!
It was awesome and finally a SD win! The Aztec "Warriors" crushed the NAU's "Timber-Men". The cheerleaders, marching band, dance squad and the "Beyoncé Girls" as Steph called them all created a ton of "Big Game" excitement. Cannons blew and fireworks flew, every time State made a touchdown. Thunder clapped and the crowed loudly yelled "FIRST DOWN" every time the "Black and Scarlett" moved the chains. We were able to spot our son Connor momentarily on the binoculars, surrounded in a sea of exuberant student fans. What a blast for all of us.
We are getting ready to head back home in a couple of days. We are back in San Diego now and will be finishing it up with one last game, we are visiting a local sports pub and grill to watch the Chargers season opener on MNF. Wrapping up a great vacation by spending one last night with our son, with some food and football. Starting our new chapter which began 30+ years ago. With a high school football romance, between the captain and the homecoming queen, 24 years of marriage and now our son in college. My oh my how we are blessed.
Next up....one if my true Mexican Taqueria food inspirations, the "Legendary" Roberto's. This is how we capped the night!
Cary Peterson
Chef/Owner
Kohala Burger & Taco
Kohala Coast Catering
