The mutual scrimmage allowed the participating teams to observe how their offense and defense would cope when the they begin their season against their respective opponents. The field was split into two so each team could practice full contact football with one another on one side and the same on the other side. The scrimmage brought an intense atmosphere as each team competed with one another during every series of offense and defense.
The South Pasadena Tigers started by taking on the Mark Keppel Aztecs. The Tigers then took on the Ontario Christian Knights before switching to the Ritsumeikan Uji Panthers with four final drives.
Originating from Kyoto, Japan, the Ritsumeikan Uji Panthers have been prone in taking yearly trips to the US to train with football teams across the nation. However, the wildfires in Southern California forced the Panthers to decrease the number of scrimmages with other high schools. The scrimmage at South Pasadena concluded a two-week trip for the Panthers in Southern California.
“I was excited to have international football at South Pasadena” Ritsumeikan Uji’s coach told me and head coach C.B. Richards of South Pasadena High School states that “[the Japanese team] had a great time at the scrimmage and played some quality football.” Head coach Richards also added, “We will keep the invitation open to the Kyoto team to come back too. Their mascot is the Kyoto Panthers and the SP Tigers welcome them to return. Ariga tou gozaimasu Kyoto Panthers, best of luck!”
The South Pasadena Tigers will kicked off their season on Friday, August 26 at Rosemead High School.
