Story Created:
Aug 31, 2010 at 12:22 PM PST
Story Updated:
Aug 31, 2010 at 12:22 PM PST
For the first time in its nearly century-long existence, Jefferson High School gets to experience the tradition of “Friday Night Lights.”
The football team, which has always played day home games in the past because its stadium lacked lights, will have the opportunity to host four evening games, beginning, ironically, with Wednesday’s 7 p.m. season opener against nonleague foe Fremont. The JV game precedes the varsity at 4 p.m.
The Democrats host Sun Valley and Washington Prep the next two weeks.
A lighting system has been installed thanks to donations from the L.A. Police Department’s Newton Division and the school district’s police department and police association.
The project, known as “Friday Night Lights,” after the successful novel, movie and television series, began when the Jefferson student group, Human Efforts Aimed at Relating Together (HEART), approached the administration about options to bring night football to a school that opened its doors in 1917.
Jefferson has fallen on hard times of late in football, but has a proud tradition.
It won the 1951 City Section championship, going undefeated and unscored on.
Many graduates have gone on to successful pro football careers.
One of the most famous alums is Woody Strode, who became one of NFL’s first black players when he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 1946. He went on to a long-time acting career.
Jefferson is located at 1319 E. 41st St.
City openers
Manual Arts hosts Sun Valley at 3 p.m. Wednesday in what is the first game ever for the visitors.
Other Wednesday openers have Dorsey at North Hollywood and Washington Prep at Canoga Park, each with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Monroe is at Lincoln and Contreras is at Van Nuys.
Thursday’s schedule has Eagle Rock at South East and Belmont at Marshall.
Among Friday’s top matchups are Garfield vs. Bishop Amat at East L.A. College and Roosevelt vs. Alhambra at Moor Field.
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