VAN NUYS — Football teams from across the CIF L.A. City Section convened at Birmingham Charter High School on Tuesday morning to celebrate Saturday’s championships.
Chatsworth, Panorama and Van Nuys are the three Daily News-area teams that will compete for a ring on Birmingham’s field. Here’s a look at each team’s season:
Chatsworth (8-5), Division II, 2:30 p.m.
Shawn Johnson took over as head coach in the second week of the season and is leading the Chancellors into their second straight championship appearance.
“He made the game really fun,” Chatsworth running back Jesse Leon, who scored the game-winning touchdown against Sylmar, said. “He’s a good dude. I can’t really say anything bad about him. He’s fun, he listens to us, he works us hard, everything. He’s just a solid coach overall.”
Chatsworth lost to Fairfax in the Division II finals last season but beat the Lions 44-28 in a nonleague game this season. The win has added to the Chancellor’s motivation to win the championship this season.
“We did get the win against Fairfax, so that helped the revenge a little bit,” Leon said. “I want to win the ‘ship because this is my last season that I’m gonna get to do it. So I’ve really got to make it count.”
Panorama (7-6), Division III, 11 a.m.
The Pythons are making their third championship appearance in four years but have yet to win a title.
“We do preach that it’s championship or bust,” Panorama head coach Adrian Beltran said.
“We got hit with the injury bug, a lot of pieces were moved around, players played different positions because some players weren’t around in our program anymore. And in the beginning, I think some of the kids, you could see them kind of deflate a little bit. I told them, keep coming to work. Keep working. Good things happen.”
Panorama finished 3-3 to end the Valley Mission League season in a three-way tie for third place.
Van Nuys (8-5), Division III, 11 a.m.
Ken Osorio is in his second year as head coach at Van Nuys but has been with the program since 2004. He’s rebuilt the Wolves using a staff almost entirely comprised of alumni.
“It’s getting bigger and bigger as we go,” Osorio said. “I get to see a lot of faces I haven’t seen in years. Former players from past years. That has been a big push for our kids today because they realize how important the program has been for the school in the past.”
Van Nuys hasn’t won a championship since 1981, but Osorio was on the team when the Wolves last made an appearance in the finals in 1996.
This season’s team has been bonded by post-practice trips to McDonald’s in addition to the success. The Wolves rebounded from two losses at the end of Valley Mission League play to win their first-round playoff game against Contreras 31-6.
Junior quarterback Carlos Herrera has thrown for 1,972 yards and 21 touchdowns this season and Louis Welling leads the defense with 82 total tackles.
“It’s motivating (having alumni as coaches) because it’s people who have been where you are,” Welling said. “They’re a role model because they’ve been where you are, they’ve done what you’ve done and they’re teaching it back to you. It’s definitely a good push in the back.”
Related Articles
Newbury Park, Simi Valley have Ventura County well-represented in the CIF-SS football finals
Daily News Boys Athlete of the Week: Jesse Leon, Chatsworth
Daily News wrap-up: Friday’s football stories, scores and photos from the semifinals
Murrieta Valley football survives Oaks Christian to reach CIF Division 2 title game
King/Drew football knocks out Kennedy to reach City Division I title game