Week four brings the first Long Beach vs. Long Beach game of the season as Wilson visits Clark Field tonight to take on St. Anthony with the Battle For 7th Street trophy on the line.
The Bruins, ranked No. 1 in the most recent CIF Southern Section Division 7 poll, are off to their best start since the 1960’s while the Saints are coming off of a second consecutive big loss.
Since these local schools started playing each other again in 2014 Wilson has won four of the five matchups on the field, but had to forfeit the 2014 victory due to an ineligible player. The Saints only win was a 14-6 nail biter at home in 2017.
“We’re old schools that used to play each other back in the 50’s and 60’s but our rivalry got rekindled,” Wilson coach Mark Ziegenhagen said. “I told my kids that once a trophy is started that school’s started it for a reason. They think they’re going to win it every year. We’re going to make sure they don’t win it back and that our name is on there a lot of times.”
Former St. Anthony athletic director Brian Walsh made the Battle For 7th Street trophy before the game last year. Below is video, photos and report from the Wilson win:
“When we decided we wanted to play Wilson it was because we wanted to participate in a game here locally, amongst the community, where we could look forward to it and see a great football atmosphere on a Friday night," St. Anthony coach Mario Morales said. "We have students that live in the Wilson area, so it’s a pretty healthy rivalry.”
Wilson is the heavy favorite tonight, but Ziegenhagen is making sure his team doesn’t loose focus with Moore League starting in a few weeks.
“Success is great, and winning is contagious, but we have to keep the focus to stay the path, play like we’re 0-0 and play like the underdog,” Ziegenhagen said. “All of those things we’re trying to get into their heads without them getting big heads. Guys like Soloman Bowie and our other senior leaders are doing a pretty good job policing it themselves.”
READ MORE about Bowie’s second chance with the Wilson defense.
“It’s about understanding that what we’re a part of is bigger than us,” Bowie said. “We have to stay humble and hungry. The one moment we get someone being selfish it all goes down. We have to play for each other and give 100 percent every play. Not for the scoreboard, but for the team and the family.”
