The official poster for the 100th meet between Fillmore and Santa Paula, drawn by Santa Paula 2010 graduate Alex Adams.

Fillmore Athletic Booster club President Andy Aguirre presented a poster drawn by 2010 Santa Paula graduate Alex Adams. (l-r) Santa Paula Mayor Jim Tovias, Fillmore Mayor Patty Walker, Santa Paula Principal Paul Marietti, County Superintendent of schools Stanley Mantooth, FUSD Superintendent Jeff Sweeney, and Fillmore principal John Wilber.

Coach Matt Dollar spoke to the audience about the history of the game in his family. To his left is Santa Paula Head Coach Teohua Sanchez and Santa Paula Principal Paul Marietti.

Fillmore DUCKS! Green and white school colors! Say it ain't so Joe! The “DUCKS” is rumored to be the name of the of the original school mascot for Fillmore High School, but that was in the 1920's! That is, according to the Master of Ceremonies Steve Conaway for the Fillmore High School Booster Club Banquet, held on Sunday, November 7th. Steve was quick, however, to attribute that historical fact to Fillmore High School Coach Joe Woods who was not present to defend himself. Steve then went on to relate the “myth” of how the Fillmore High School Football Team received their current mascot name, the Flashes: “In the early 1920's the Fillmore Ducks were playing a football game when late in the second quarter the sky opened up and lightening and thunder rocked the Fillmore area. When Fillmore came out after half time Fillmore came out and played with the power and speed of a lightning bolt striking the earth. Fillmore won the game and the very next week Fillmore was known as the flashes!” Seems like a good story Steve!

The Fillmore High School Athletic Boosters kicked off a week-long of activities by hosting a dinner at the Fillmore-Piru Memorial Building for both teams and coaches from Santa Paula and Fillmore. The dinner was prepared by Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros and his merry band of cooks; Laura Landeros, Don Palmer, Scott Beylick and Joe Ricards. The meal menu was Fillmore's favorite of Tri-Tip, chicken, baked potatoes, salad and finished beautifully by an orange sherbert ice cream presented in a half orange shell from a local citrus grower. The meal was served by nicely dressed cheerleaders and pep squad members from each school.

Welcoming both teams, their coaches, dignitaries and others in attendance was Fillmore Mayor Patti Walker with follow up comments also given by both school superintendents; Fillmore Superintendent Jeff Sweeney and Santa Paula Superintendent David Gomez. Master of Ceremonies and sitting Fillmore City Councilmember Steve Conaway gave a short history of this long-standing rivalry which is said to be the longest standing rivalry, based on games played, in Ventura County and possibly in the State of California.

There were many proclamations presented to the teams by local government representatives including Ventura County Board of Supervisors District-3 and Board Chair Supervisor Kathy Long. Supervisor Long told the football players, “You will always remember this game. Enjoy! Have fun!” She then in a true politician's fashion said as she left the podium, “Go Flashes! Go Cardinals!” United States Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congressman for California District 24 Elton Gallegly, although not present, provided proclamations to each team. Congressman Gallegly also presented a United States Flag to fly during the game on November 12th. The flag had been flown over the White House prior to being presented for the game. Proclamations were also received from California State Senator George Runner and California Assemblywoman Audra Strickland.

Other dignitaries at the event were; Fillmore City Councilmember Laurie Hernandez, Fillmore School District Board Trustee Liz Wilde, Fillmore Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mike Bush, Fillmore High School Principal John Wilber and Assistant Principal Ellen Green, Athletic Director Ernie Quiroz, Fillmore Police Chief Captain Tim Hagel, County Superintendent of Schools Stanley Mantooth, Santa Paula Principal Paul Marietti, Santa Paula School Board Trustees Diana Ponce-Gomez, Christopher Wilson, Assistant Principals Robin Gillette, Elizabeth Garcia, Director of Educational Services Tony Gaitan, City of Santa Paula City Manager Jamie Fontes, Santa Paula Mayor JimTovias, Santa Paula City Councilmembers Fred Robinson, Ralph Fernandez and Bob Gonzales.

Both teams head coaches and their team captains were also introduced: Fillmore High School Head Varsity Coach Matt Dollar and Head Junior Varsity Coach Matt Dann and their Team Captains Corey Cole, Chris De La Paz, Derek Luna make up the Fillmore Flashes leadership for Friday night. The Santa Paula Cardinals will be led by Head Varsity Coach Teohua Sanchez, Head Junior Varsity Coach Justin Schmidt and Team Captains Joseph Morales, Esteban Magana, Jeremy Welch and Ramiro Chavez.

This Friday night, November 12, 2010 twenty-two high school age young men, student athletes, will meet in Fillmore on a field of artificial turf to block, shove, push, tackle, run, throw and kick an oblong ball and yes even share a little “trash talk” on the line in four twelve minute quarters full of sportsmanship, action and tradition! The fact that this will be the 100th time these two teams has faced off against each other makes it possible that anything can happen on the gridiron. When those teams of eleven are from the cities of Santa Paula and Fillmore the game is even more competitive and intense. This intensity and competitive spirit is not only on the field, but also in the stands and in the coffee shops and restaurants where the locals from each community meet!

Even the two city mayors have challenged each other on the outcome of the game! The challenge is that the losing mayor will wear the winning mayor's team jersey at their next city council meeting. Word has it that Mayor Tovias is fond of Blue and White and, according to Mayor Walker he will get his chance to wear his favorite colors to his next city council meeting after the game this Friday night when Mayor Walker will be happy to present him with a Flashes Football jersey after the game. Not to be outdone Mayor Tovias brought a Cardinals jersey number 10 for Mayor Walker to try on for size. He boasted his prediction of a Cardinal win by a ten point spread and the reason for the number ten jersey! Another bet was also revealed by Steve Conaway between Steve and Santa Paula City Councilmember Bob Gonzales. The bet was made two years ago when both were Mayors of their respective cities. The bet was that the loser of this 100th game would provide the winner with a box of avocados if Santa Paula is the loser and Naval Oranges if Fillmore is the loser. Steve added that he really likes Guacamole and looks forward to his avocados.

The President of the Fillmore High School Booster Club, Andy Aguirre did a fine job of coordinating his crew of Boosters for the evenings kick-off event and with the exception of some technical glitches with the sound system the program started and finished on time. Andy also presented a framed souvenir poster created by 2010 Santa Paula High School graduate Alex Adams to the City Mayors, school principals, school superintendents and both varsity coaches. Andy noted that the poster was the result of a contest between the two school's art departments.

The first game between these two arch-rivals occurred on October 2, 1924 and was Santa Paula High Schools very first football game. This game ended with a win for the Santa Paula Cardinals with a score of 20-13 defeating the Fillmore Flashes and kicking off the football rivalry. Of the 99 already played games Santa Paula has beaten Fillmore in 54 games, and Fillmore has been the victor in 38 games with both teams tying in 7 games. Three of those ties, in 1930, 1932 and 1936, were tough fought 0-0 games! The last time the game ended in a tie was 1944!

There were two years that football was not played between the two schools; in 1942 due to WWII and in 1969 because of the flooding that devastated the two communities as well as all of Southern California. Because of the close this rivalry the outcome of the game is sometimes argued within families. As an example the parents of one of the Fillmore Flashes, Brandon Pina, told me how Brandon's paternal grandfather played for the Santa Paula Cardinals while he, his brother and now his Brandon played for the Fillmore Flashes. Head Varsity Coach Dollar related how his great-grandfather, grandfather, father, his brother and him all played in the Flashes-Cardinals games. They all experienced wins but him. This was always brought out whenever family met together. Coach Dollar said he had to wait until he became the Head Varsity Coach to experience his win in 2009.

This 100th game will be played in Fillmore eighty-six years after that first game and is surely to be a tough fought battle between the two schools. There even has been produced a forty-five minute DVD, “9 Miles” (named for the distance between the two cities), chronicling the 99 previous face-offs! This DVD will be for sale on game day and contains some interesting interviews, game film clips and photographs of the long-standing rivalry. The DVD can be obtained by calling the Fillmore High Alumni Association at 524-0416, or by emailing the Fillmore High Alumni Association at staff@fillmorehighalumni.com. The cost of the DVD is $20. Checks can also be sent to P.O. Box 385, Fillmore, CA 93016-0385. If you would like the DVD sent to you the cost will be $25.

In talking with retired head coach Bruce Dempsey who led the Fillmore Flashes for sixteen years from 1968-1984 he recalls one memorable game, in 1984 at Santa Paula. This game was labeled as “The Mud Bowl.” The contest got the name, Mud Bowl, when the two teams met and played football in a torrential downpour. In that game defensive end Scott Sanders was a one-man wrecking crew for Fillmore and led the Flashes to win that game, but Coach Dempsey could not remember the score, or would he reveal how he prepared for the games between the two schools. He also proudly told me there were a number of outstanding players he coached during his 16 year coaching career who went on to play college football. Players like Ralph Zermeno-San Jose State, Gary Southwick-Washington State, Rick Stewart-Oral Roberts University baseball, Greg Baldwin-Florida State and Bret Dempsey-Cal Poly, Pomona. He also told me many more went on to play at local two-year colleges. Some of Coach Dempsey's memories are featured in the DVD 9 Miles.

It was a great evening to kick off this week-long of activities leading up to the big game. Being the 100th game is very significant, but every game between the two schools has always been important for each of the schools, the coaches, the players, their respective communities and to the many alumni that support both teams from the stands. No matter which team wins this 100th match up, the 101st game is just around the corner! Go Flashes!