For the first time since 1988, the varsity football team at El Rancho High made it to the final game of the CIF championship; despite the loss of the game, their hard work, dedication, and effort paid off in marking another performance of integrity in their history.
This year’s football season delivered hard-fought matches between the El Rancho Dons and their opponents, showcasing the remarkable journey that led up to the CIF Championship Final.
Despite the team kicking off the season with a loss against Don Lugo, it did not mean that the Dons were going to keep it that way.
After a resounding victory against the Bell Gardens team, the El Rancho Dons steadily carried their momentum through each match, managing to take three victories straight even before the CIF games.
That isn’t to say that the Dons didn’t face setbacks though. Several players faced injuries during the season, one of them being varsity captain Eric Cortes, who suffered a minor concussion during a game; another player, Dominic Quintero, ended up with a knee injury and could not return to the field to close the season.
The team also faced stress on and off the field throughout the season, as this would be the last season for seniors to play for El Rancho and it put weight on the players.
Despite all of these factors, the Dons overcame adversity, bounced back from injury, and demonstrated resilience through all of their matches leading up the championship. Cortes recovered quickly and returned to lead and fight alongside the other players, and Quintero continued to show his pride and respect for his teammates, attending every single match and supporting on and off the field, especially during recovery.
As for the CIF championship games, that is where the Dons shined the most.
The El Rancho Dons were fierce and fought hard during these matches, and its evident in the fact they knocked three different teams out of the championship, the first one being Bell Gardens. This wouldn’t be the first time that the Dons beat them this season either.
Although the match was closer this time around, Bell Gardens was still not quite ready for the determination of El Rancho’s team.
Momentum carried on for the next two matches of the championship, with the Dons winning 42-20 against Los Amigos, and then winning 28-21 against San Gorgonio.
Despite a season defined by resilience and determination, the El Rancho Dons fell just short during the CIF Championship Final, losing 14-31 to Portola. Although the outcome was not what they had hoped for, the Dons gave everything they had, earning the respect of fans, opponents and the community.
The loss was heartbreaking to players and fans alike, but it doesn’t hide the strong season that El Rancho put together this year. Reaching the CIF Championship Final was a testament to the team’s talent, dedication, and teamwork.
As the players walked off the field for the last time this season, it was without a doubt that they left behind a legacy that will inspire future teams to fight as hard as they did.
