Garfield High School’s Bobby Vargas, left, and Roosevelt’s Brandon Sifuentes, lifelong friends, will be on opposite sides of the field in the East L.A. Classic Friday at East L.A. College. (Photo by Mario Villegas)
Story Published:
Nov 4, 2009 at 6:10 PM PDT
Story Updated:
Nov 5, 2009 at 3:29 AM PDT
Garfield High School’s Bobby Vargas and Roosevelt’s Brandon Sifuentes epitomize the friendly nature and the natural links that mark the East Los Angeles Classic.
They’ve been friends for years and were teammates at the age of eight as members of the Pop Warner East L.A. Bobcats. Sifuentes was a running back, Vargas a receiver.
Set for the 75th edition of this neighborhood showdown Friday at East L.A. College, this link is only natural.
Husbands and wives who attended opposing schools are on opposite sides of the field for this game. It’s common for current players to have had fathers, uncles and brothers play in previous Classics.
This is the case for Vargas, a wide receiver and defensive back for the Bulldogs, and Sifuentes, who shares quarterback duties with Manny Ayon for the Rough Riders.
“For 48 minutes, we’ll be rivals, then it’s back to the friendship,” Sifuentes said.
Vargas, who leads Garfield in receiving with 11 catches for 194 yards and in interceptions with three, has quite a lineage when it comes to the Classic. His father, Ray, an assistant for Garfield, played in it, as did two older and one younger brother.
“My dad takes it very seriously,” Vargas said. “He tells me, this game is it, so do everything possible to win.”
Sifuentes, who has passed for 520 yards this year, said both parents are Roosevelt graduates, although his father only played “B” level football.
“He tells me he is living his dreams through me,” Sifuentes said.
So what is it like for a high school player to be in the unique situation of performing in front of 23,000 fans, as they will Friday?
Being four-year veterans of this game, they certainly can offer perspective.
“The first time, it’s pretty overwhelming because of all that noise,” Vargas said. “I try to tell the younger players to tune out the crowd and just play the game.”
“It’s an amazing feeling to come out in front of 20,000 fans,” Sifuentes said.
Roosevelt coach Javier Cid characterized this game as like a fight between two brothers.
The players see it in much the same way.
“It means everything — honor, tradition, courage and friendship,” Vargas said.
“It’s a friendly rivalry,” Sifuentes adds. “There’s the tradition, the respect and the community coming together.”
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