By April Anaya & Kiana Diamond

Granada Hills Charter (GHC) varsity football defeated North Hollywood High School 50-16 on Thursday, August 22, in scalding heat with a high of 96 degrees.

The opening game against the Huskies was filled with high stakes, as the players were seeking retribution from last season. Previously, North Hollywood had knocked out the Highlanders in the first round of playoffs, making the team strive to work harder for the next season. “NoHo beat us last year during the first game of the playoffs, and it was really cool getting revenge,” junior and captain Leland Gargaro said.

Gargaro expressed his excitement for the kickoff of the season. He was particularly proud of the incredible roster this season.

The Highlanders put up 50 points against the Huskies, with top scorers being seniors and running backs Dean Rosales and Michael Osuma with a combined total of four touchdowns. The dynamic duo displayed their speed and evasiveness as they scurried through the North Hollywood defense.

GHC as a whole collected 31 carries, 6 touchdowns, and 420 running yards. Offensive and Defensive Linemen senior Jayden Garcia and junior Matthew Farias collected 21 tackles against the Huskies. 

Prior to the first home game of the season for the Highlanders, the junior varsity (JV) game scheduled for 4:00 p.m. had been cancelled due to excessive heat warnings. Concern for players’ safety trumped the passion for the first game, leaving many JV players devastated.

“It was pretty hot, and the pads plus the black jerseys weren’t helping,” Gargaro said.

The heat did die down eventually as spectators witnessed the beautiful pink and purple sunset behind the scoreboard. Despite the obstacles, spectators and players felt that the home opener was filled with fun and excitement. 

“The team was hyped on and off the field so the game was pretty fun,” senior and quarterback Nathan Pham said.

Coming off of a 3-8 season last year, the home opener created high expectations for the upcoming season as the football team and their fans hope to see another championship title being claimed. 

“We just have to prove everybody wrong and it’s going to take a lot of work for sure,” Pham said.

We hope the Highlanders work hard and continue this winning streak, entertaining fans and representing Granada Hills Charter valiantly.