The Cerritos College football team begins what will be a tough schedule Saturday when it hosts the second-ranked team in the state.
Bakersfield is coming off of a 10-2 season and is ranked in the top three in the state and top five nationally in most junior college football polls.
Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Falcon Stadium. Fans are advised to get to the stadium early because Bakersfield brings a large legion of fans to its road games.
The Falcons (8-3 last season) are also ranked among the top 10 in the state and top 20 nationally in some polls.
Falcons’ head coach Frank Mazzotta, beginning his 24th season at Cerritos, said, “This game opening up is pitted to be the best game of that weekend. So I think we have the number one game in the town in the opener, so that’s a pretty good deal.
“The only thing I can say is that Bakersfield and Cerritos College has been a long time (coming). We haven’t played them in 15 years.
“But prior to that, Bakersfield and Cerritos College was the game of the year, it was a great rivalry.
“And I think, when [the schedule makers] put us back together, that was a part of it. They want to rekindle some interest in football.”
The last meeting between the teams was in 1985, when Cerritos won by a score of 24-2.
The Falcons have won the last two meetings, and four of the last six.
Bakersfield leads the overall series, 13-9.
“Bakersfield’s got a great tradition,” Mazzotta said.
“So, it’s going to be fun in two regards. One, I think they want to see if they can still compete on a weekly deal with the teams of our caliber. So it’s going to be a nice opener. I’m looking forward to it.
“We could get beat, but if you get beat by somebody like them you’re never embarrassed, because they’re a good football team.”
“I don’t foresee losing to them but, if you did, they were the number two team in the state last year, and they always are right up there in the top five.
“So we’re not going to be embarrassed, unless they kick the crap out of us.
“I don’t think they’ll do that.”
Previous football stories:Football team moves ahead despite losing key players (Aug. 29)Supplemental Heat (Aug. 29)
