Editor’s note: Manny Alvarez is writing for OCVarsity about the loud, proud, outrageous, innovative and dedicated high school student sections during the football season. If you have suggestions for topics, please let us know: preps@ocregister.com or tweet @MAlvarez02.
The Student Section Report will be online each Wednesday during the football season.
OK, we need to change it up a bit.
It seems like we know the same four or five powerhouse student sections that are going to make it each Friday night as a finalist for the OCVarsity Student Section of the Week competition. We know this because we seemingly have picked the same group almost every week.
Villa Park Black Pack, Servite Asylum, Santa Margarita Eagles Nest, La Habra Clan and JSerra Lions Den.
We need some other student sections to step it up.
One way to show off your student section is by using the hashtag #ocvfans and sending videos and photos our way via Twitter. Also, send them early in evening. The earlier you send them, the better chance you have to get picked. I should know, I pick them.
One student section I wish I had seen earlier in the night last week is the Northwood Den. They not only showed their school spirit, but they wore purple for Domestic Abuse Awareness.
PURPLE OUT: DOMESTIC ABUSE AWARENESS
#ocvfans #northwood pic.twitter.com/hnme09SLzT
— Sophie (@GrossmanSophie) September 15, 2018
A win-win and a tip of the hat to the Den.
Keep the photos and videos coming with the hashtag #ocvfans.
Now, how can you get your student section recognition? I’ll give you five examples from this past Friday from our Student Section of the Week Finalists.
LAST WEEK RECAP
I got to see the El Dorado Hawks Nest when the Golden Hawks took on Valencia a few weeks back. The Nest rocked it, but a tough loss to their rival is hard and the student section got quiet.
That happens, but they bounced back and so did their football team.
El Dorado took El Modena to the end last Friday and won the game with a field goal in the finals seconds. The Nest was loud and wild. We hope to see them here again and often.
The La Habra Clan took a dub and so did their team.
The Highlanders got their first win and we should expect them to eat a whole bunch of Ws from here on out.
The Clan has been consistent and loud. They have also been supportive during the four tough weeks for their football team. The tough part of the schedule is over and The Clan will start to roar more so than usual as Freeway League play begins next week.
JSerra made their return from their Los Angeles County road trip. A month away from their home, the Lions were welcomed by The Den. The Den didn’t disappoint. A loud and rowdy student section.
Good news for JSerra, they have one more trip to Los Angeles, well Bellflower to be exact, but they have three home games and a road game in Mission Viejo. Expect The Lions Den to be talked about more often.
The Servite Asylum showed up to Fred Kelly Stadium to cheer their Friars against Villa Park. Road Warriors! It was a sea of white and there was a special appearance by Clipper Darrell.
Win or lose, we always grind @clipperdarrell @MAlvarez02 @SoCalSections #ocvfans pic.twitter.com/7EzQhvqiKq
— The Asylum (@ServiteAsylum) September 15, 2018
The Asylum did their usual work. Now, they may not be thrilled about falling short for Student Section of the Week last week, but they will take the award again soon. It’s almost certain.
I like to share the wealth, so I try to avoid repeated winners, but it would have been tough to select a section over the Villa Park Black Pack, which mixed in the right ingredients.
The loud noise, the cheers, the large student section and the fantastic work on social media. They not only deserved it, they earned it.
Our BLACK PACK brought the SPIRIT AGAIN!!
We are soooooo proud of our football team for the tremendous WIN over Servite tonight!!! Dance and Band had AMAZING performances tonight!! WE LOVE VP!!! #BLUEisBACK #ocvfans @MAlvarez02 pic.twitter.com/w9zn58TfXc
— Villa Park HS (@VPSpartan) September 15, 2018
In return, the Black Pack won the OCVarsity Student Section of the Week for the second straight week in a row.
It was a fantastic night for Villa Park, which defeated Servite 28-14.
Can The Black Pack make it three weeks in a row as Student Section of the Week?
It is possible. Yes, Villa Park has a road game this week, but it’s at El Toro. The Black Pack has traveled much farther than Lake Forest.
The Black Pack took a good number of students to Yucaipa, in San Bernardino County, on a Friday afternoon, on Labor Day Weekend.
To the student sections not feeling that I’m giving you recognition or OCVarsity is giving love, just follow what the Black Pack does and you’ll get noticed, I promise you.
THIS WEEK’S STUDENT SECTION BATTLES
One game this week appears to be the top student section battle on both sides of the stadium – Villa Park at El Toro.
The Black Pack will be invading El Toro, but The El Toro Freak Show will look to protect their house.
We haven’t heard much from The Freak Show this season, so we hope to hear some noise from these Freaks.
San Clemente vs. Edison at Huntington Beach High (Thursday): Charger Nation will be roaring as San Clemente will be looking to end that awful losing streak. Edison will look for some motivation from the stands. Hopefully, the Charger faithful will deliver.
IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium: How often do you get to see IMG Academy play your team? The Mater Dei Den should be rocking. For once, their football team will need them to cheer and send the Ascenders back to Florida with a loss.
Mission Viejo vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College: I wish I heard more about OLu Code Red, but in a big game against Mission Viejo, I’m expecting them to arrive. Code Red is a loud and insane student section when they show up in full. Hopefully that’s the case Friday.
Los Alamitos at Tesoro: It is a homecoming game for Tesoro, so the Titan Army should show up and rock the stadium, just like old times. The Titan Army was always a favorite of mine. The good news is that the Titan Army will show up and go crazy. The bad news is entering the parking for the game. Home field advantage for Tesoro.
Cypress at Capistrano Valley: The Cougar Den opened the Student Section season by being named the Student Section of the Week in Week 0. Capo Valley has been on the road for awhile, so the Den will break out of their cage for ther team’s return.
Also, my bosses at OCVarsity think it would be a great idea for a student section enter a stadium by breaking out of a cage. I’m giving you the idea Capo Valley. Just saying.
THE best intro in football.
The Tiger Cage pic.twitter.com/0CcemB5jSK— Kyle (@KyleSports757) August 25, 2018
Bishop Diego at St. Margaret’s: I’m trying to think which condiment is going to win the halftime race. My choice is the bottle of ketchup. The Kitchen will be going nuts on Friday. This student section gets loud and shows their school spirit, but they also get very weird. I like weird, so win-win for the Tartans.
