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Two-time defending City Section champion Birmingham of Lake Balboa had its season turned upside down Thursday in a shocking 29-28 nonleague season opening loss to Garfield of Los Angeles.


After falling behind 29-14 with 4:42 left, Birmingham's stagnant offense finally broke out, as the Patriots scored touchdowns in a 3:29 span.


Kimbrick Collier rushed for a 10-yard score and, after Birmingham recovered a Garfield fumble, Trajuan Briggs (12 carries, 48 yards) found the end zone from 3 yards out, pulling the Patriots -- ranked No. 14 in the state by Cal-Hi sports -- to within one point with 1:13 remaining.


Coach Ed Croson decided to go for the victory with a two-point conversion attempt, but Steven Zamora was stopped short right at the goal line.


"We scored on that conversion, the TV (replay) shows it," Croson said. "It's a human game, though. The officials aren't perfect, and neither am I.
"


The Patriots, who had their 13-game winning streak snapped, got off to a good start when Davontae Brooks returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to take a 6-0 lead, and Birmingham led 14-0 in the second quarter, but Garfield used a punishing running game to control the clock, and pulled to within 14-7 at halftime as Patrick Vargas threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Salas with 5.8 seconds left in the second quarter.


It was more of the same in the second half for the Bulldogs. Vargas (12 of 17, 146 yards) connected with Franky Diaz on an 11-yard touchdown pass on the first drive of the second half to cap a 13-play, 65-yard drive that ate up over six minutes.


"No excuses but we lost 11 starters on defense and we lost five coaches," Croson said.


After stopping Birmingham on its next drive, Garfield responded with another Vargas touchdown pass. Lanny Delgado caught a 33-yard strike and the Bulldogs led 21-14.


Birmingham quarterback Morey Croson then threw an interception that was returned 30 yards for a touchdown by Eric Saucedo as Garfield took a 29-14 lead.


USC-bound receiver De'Von Flournoy finished with six receptions for 113 yards for Birmingham, but only had two catches going into the fourth quarter.


Croson completed 12 of 22 passes for 236 yards.


Garfield's Sergio Macedo (19 carries, 116 yards), Diaz (nine carries, 56 yards) and Omar Hernadez (12 carries, 36 yards) were instrumental in controlling the clock and keeping the Patriots' offense off the field.


Birmingham also didn't help itself with 14 penalties for 102 yards.


"Garfield came in believing they could win and we didn't think they could do that," Croson said. "This was just a high school football game. We teach children how to become men. Our sole purpose is not to win games or make state championship games or get college scholarships. We are teaching kids to negotiate life, keep trying when you don't want to try anymore.
"


- Jacob Pollon





LATimes: Garfield stuns Birmingham, 29-28

Body: Eric Sondheimer, September 4, 2008


Garfield High football fans are among the most loyal and dedicated in the Southland, and they especially enjoy victories over their arch rival, Roosevelt.


But on Thursday night, the Bulldog nation was rejoicing after perhaps the most improbable victory in school history, a 29-28 triumph over two-time defending City Section Championship Division champion Lake Balboa Birmingham behind a 5-foot-5 senior quarterback named Patrick Vargas, who threw three touchdown passes.


"It's like a dream come true," Garfield Coach Lorenzo Hernandez said. "It's surreal.
I'm like, 'Are we really supposed to be here?' "

It was Hernandez who decided to move Garfield, last year's City Invitational champion, into the City Championship Division this season and try to take on the big boys. And no one is bigger than Birmingham, which had a 13-game win streak snapped.


Garfield scored 29 consecutive points after falling behind, 14-0. Then Birmingham almost pulled off a miracle comeback.


Trailing, 29-14, the Patriots got a 10-yard touchdown run from Kimbrick Collier with 3:24 left, then a two-point conversion run from Collier to close to 29-22.


Garfield only needed to run out the clock, but the Bulldogs lost the ball on a fumble recovered by Victor Garcia with 2:37 remaining.


Quarterback Morey Croson completed passes of 15 and 38 yards to De'Von Flournoy. Trajuan Briggs scored on a three-yard touchdown run with 1:33 left, making it 29-28.


Birmingham Coach Ed Croson decided to go for the victory and seek a two-point conversion. Backup quarterback Steven Zamora took the handoff, briefly lost the ball, then darted toward the end zone. The ball appeared to cross into the end zone, then fell out of his hands back toward the five-yard line. The officials ruled he did not score.


Garfield then ran out the clock as its fans celebrated at Birmingham.


There were many standouts for Garfield, which controlled the clock throughout with an effective running game, but no one was more valuable than Vargas, who was 5-0 as a starting quarterback last season. He threw touchdown passes of 14 yards to Aaron Salas, 10 yards to Franky Diaz and 33 yards to Lanny Delgado.


At one point in the second half, Vargas completed seven consecutive passes. He finished 13 of 18 for 144 yards.


"He's been playing football all his life and understands how to take charge on the field," Hernandez said.


Morey Croson was intercepted twice, with Eric Saucedo of Garfield returning one interception 30 yards for a touchdown. Delgado was outstanding playing cornerback and covering the USC-bound Flournoy, who struggled with an injured ankle.


Sergio Macedo rushed for 108 yards in 20 carries for Garfield. Croson passed for 231 yards.


Birmingham junior receiver Davontae Brooks started the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Later, he had a 44-yard pass reception to set up a one-yard touchdown by Zamora.


But weaknesses by Birmingham were exposed all night by Garfield, and the Patriots didn't help matters by committing 14 penalties for 102 yards.