For Centaurs, This Home Game Is Extra Special

To Tom Salter, Friday nights at Culver City High are very special.

Salter should know. While he's currently a physical education teacher at the high school, he was the Centaurs' coach for 10 years and in 2006 led the team to its first Ocean League championship in 11 seasons. He followed that up with two more before handing over the reins to current coach Jahmal Wright.

"There's nothing like it," Salter said. "You work all season long for that Friday night and when you get a home game, it's a lifetime of memories for those Friday nights."

The Centaurs' game on Friday against Palos Verdes Peninsula High is extra special because it will be their only home game for the first six weeks of the season. After opening the season last week with a 28-14 victory over Torrance West on the road, Culver City will be looking to give its fans a performance to tide them over until they return home on Oct. 22 to host Inglewood High.

Quite a few students made it to the Centaurs' season opener against the Warriors, but students assert that the environment at West is nothing compared to a Culver City home game.

"The atmosphere at the home games is great," said senior Kourtney Wright. "The fans are just so alive and the boys just kind of feed off the energy."

Wright works as the varsity team's senior manager, so she's seen her share of games. She said that parents, alumni, community members and some parents whose children no longer even attend the school will often make it to home games.

"Everybody comes out," Wright said. "It's amazing, especially when we know we've got a good game."

Culver City sophomore Courtney Stevenson, summed the experience of a Centaurs home football game up in one word.

"Hyped," she said. "It is crazy. We have some people from our school that actually travel with the team too. I love the feeling, it's like a big adrenaline rush."

While it's always great to be home again, some fans may worry that the Centaurs' road schedule could scuttle the team's lofty ambitions. In addition to looking for a fifth straight Ocean League championship, the Centaurs are also hoping to go deep into the playoffs. Last year, the team lost in the first round, and in the past five years Culver City has lost twice as many games on the road as they have at home.

Salter said he isn't worried about the time the Centaurs will have to spend away from home in the preseason.

"It is what it is, you can't control that," he said. "You've just got to play every game and I know playing the home opener the kids will be excited, and the school will be excited."

Wright echoed Salter's enthusiasm for the upcoming game. "It's the only home game we're gonna have the first six weeks of the season, so we really want to make the most of it," he said. "It's our home, so we really take pride in it."

Fans at the stadium can expect Culver City High students to take pride in the game as well. Kourtney Wright issued a dress code warning for anyone considering attending the Friday night contest.

"There's a lot of blue and white," she said. "If you dress in something else, people are gonna be looking at you sideways."