After Opening Football Win, Bernstein Looks to Keep it Going

You can excuse Bernstein High’s football team for celebrating with a bit of extra exuberance over the past two weeks following a 19-13 opening football victory over Anneberg.

After all, the win was only Bernstein’s third in the program’s four-year history.

Now, however, it’s time to get back to work.

After a bye week, the Dragons play another road game tonight at 7 at Torres, a first-year program in Los Angeles, as Bernstein is in the midst of a three-game stretch of away games before the home opener finally arrives on Sept. 30.

“It’s pretty cool starting the season off with win,” quarterback Brian Lopez said. “It kind of sets some high expectations for ourselves. Winning is a lot better than losing because it kind of puts the negativity behind us and gives us some positive reinforcement.”

Lopez passed for 165 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Anneberg, and the quarterback says he feels a different vibe on campus after starting 1-0 instead of the other way around.

“I think the team has always been together as a unit, but everyone else in the school didn’t really follow us that much,” Lopez said. “Now they’re following us more.”

Torres (1-1) is expected to have growing pains, too, but the Toros won 37-6 last Friday at Fulton Prep in Van Nuys, and because Bernstein had the week off, Dragons coach Darrell Divinity was there to see it.

“We’re trying to get ready for this one, and I’m hoping we had a good enough week to get better,” Divinity said. “We’ve had two weeks to prepare, so we’re hoping we have a game plan that helps us offensively and defensively because Torres has a pretty good running, and they can pass the ball, too. They’re pretty balanced, and that can be scary.”

Divinity likes his team’s overall attitude, and sometimes that can go a long way in high school football.

“The kids are feeling pretty good, so all I have to do is make sure they stay humble and focused,” Divinity said. “The last win was one for the history books, so it should be easier to stay focused. We’re hoping to get our fourth win ever.”

Divinity is hoping to get a big performance from receivers Julio Quintero and William Mack.

“We like a good game from Julio in terms of catching passes and making plays on defense,” Divinity said. “Hopefully, he can catch some passes and turn them into big plays.”

Johnny Ortiz rushed for 121 yards on 16 carries in the opener, scoring on a 27-yard run and a 20-yard reception, so he is a big part of the game plan, too.

“I’m actually pretty confident,” Lopez said. “We look pretty good in practice this week. It looks like we’re going to be able to get it done this year.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TONIGHT

Bernstein (1-0) at Torres (1-1), 7 p.m. – Coming off a bye week, Bernstein looks to parlay the momentum of its opening win, only the third in the program’s four-year history.

Hollywood (0-2) at North Hollywood (0-2), 7 p.m. – Each team is looking for its first win after Hollywood gave up 222 rushing yards in a 49-0 loss to Canoga Park and North Hollywood allowed 356 rushing yards in a 51-12 loss to Fontana Miller last week.