For Love of the Game:

They warmed to soccer, soccer players

Sam Morris

Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008 | 2 a.m.

A playoff should be enough reason for someone to attend a sporting event.

But in high school, there may be something else that helps get a guy to stand around for a couple hours in near-freezing weather.

Take Centennial students Manny Lucas, Ricky Crilley and Roy Smith. They waved homemade signs while they stood and screamed for the blue-clad Lady Bulldogs — even though they were seated among the Arbor View fans.

Why did they bring the signs?

Crilley begins to explain: “They’re our friends, this is our school and we came to represent our school ...”

But Lucas interrupts, “And they’re hot.”

“Big, blue, blonds,” Crilley says. “We love ’em.”

The trio say their school spirit helped on the field, where Centennial beat Arbor View, 3-0.

The Bulldogs move into the Sunset Region championship game against Bishop Gorman at 6 p.m. Monday at Bettye Wilson park. Green Valley plays Rancho in the Sunrise championship at 4 p.m.

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