Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Another Week of American Football and a Civil War Reenactment


August came to a warm end and the first week of September mostly meant more chances to watch American football practices and games.

 Tuesday at Pacifica H.S.

I watched Mike Moon's Tritons practice after their tough 65-44 loss to Newbury Park the previous Friday. The coaches were upbeat and their preparation this week led to a huge 20-17 victory over highly regarded Moorpark H.S. in overtime.

Both Pacifica and Moorpark are now 1-1 on the season.

 Wednesday lunch in Woodland
Hills just before attending . . .

. . . the Pierce College practice

The Brahmas, led by Head Coach Jason Sabolic, were preparing in the heat for their season opener on Saturday night at home against Moorpark College.

Thursday at Camarillo H.S.

We were here to watch the Camarillo Scorions Freshman team take on their counterparts from Saugus H.S.

The Scorpions Defensive Coordinator is our godson Tim Murphy.

The Scorpions improved to 2-0 with their 44-15 win over the Centurions who are now 1-1 on the campaign. 

Friday Night Lights
Newbury Park H.S. Style

The Panthers (1-0) were hosting
the Agoura Chargers (0-1)

 Grandson Jacob, far right, watching
the action from the Panther Tunnel

The Panther had a sluggish start falling behind 0-14 in the first quarter before exploding to a 63-21 victory.

Newbury Park is now 2-0 while Agoura drops to 0-2 for the year.

Saturday Night
Moorpark College at Pierce College

After a total of FORTY-SIX penalties for 433 yards, let's just call it a sloppy season opener for both schools.

Moorpark prevailed 25-6.

After the game, I worked my way down to the field and much to my surprise found someone on the field that I first met while coaching the Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons in 2013 . . .

. . . Dario Viallet

Dario is the driving force behind the French DII Montpellier Hurricanes. He was in California delivering new football uniforms to the Pierce team and trying to make contacts with other schools and sporting goods in order to expand his business.

Small world . . .

A Nice Sunday at the
Huntington Beach
Civil War Reenactment

 We were at the right place

Jacob and I drove down to watch our son and/or Jacob's Dad Michael fight for the Union.

 But first we had to find Mike
somewhere in the Union Camp

Uh-Oh, Rebs

 We got some strange looks from the
Rebs when Jacob asked where the
2nd Vermont Volunteers were

But they did direct us to them just past the village full of all sorts of people like . . .

. . . Faro Dealers and . . .

. . . What the . . . 
Ooh-la-la 

Finally we found Mike

Taking aim

 Mike ready for the morning battle,
Jacob wounded

Jacob can't join until he turns 14

 George Hurley

George is just an all-around great guy. Newbury Park's Ventura County Sports Hall-of-Fame football coach is the one who talked Mike into the whole world of Civil War reenacting.

 A cigar chomping writer for
Harper's Bazaar Weekly

 A shifty New York politician angling
for votes in the upcoming election

Baseball before the morning battle

The writer from Harper's Bazaar said that this new sport would never catch on.

Mike with his bedroll
over his shoulder

 Union Cannon at the ready

Get your muskets, the Rebs are coming!

Casualties

The Rebel forces won the day

The Union surrendered as Taps
were played

Rebs at honoring the fallen
during the rendition of Taps

 One happy Rebel

Mike, now a POW, marching to
Andersonville Prison in Georgia

 Jacob is a Yankee at heart

"How many more years until I'm 14?"

"Dismissed!"

These reenactments are always fun and full of interesting new knowledge about life as a soldier during the 1861-65 War Between the States.

Cotton Candy Ice Cream

On the way home, we stopped at Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors Ice Cream store, or as Jacob calls it, "Ice Cream Headquarters."

On a side note, when we visited the same ice cream store in Las Vegas last month with grandson Kevin, he too opted for a scoop of Cotton Candy ice cream.  

Reading Is FUNdamental

Escapism at its finest!

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