It was a touchdown for the Cerritos High School football team as they received a major nod from LA County honcho Janice Hahn herself this morning. The squad, who recently clinched their first-ever CIF Southern Section title, were awarded for their hard-nosed hustle on the gridiron. Hahn handed out certificates of recognition to each of the gritty players and gave an additional nod in the form of a County scroll to head coach Demel Franklin, according to the County of Los Angeles, California.
The trophy was a long time coming for the Dons, who snatched the Division 12 Champs title after a nail-biter of a game against Yucca Valley High School that spiraled into overtime drama. The final score? A clenched 19-13 victory that had fans on their feet at Atkins Stadium. "Being a student-athlete is not easy, but all of these players have shown incredible determination and hard work," Hahn commended the Cerritos squad in a statement obtained by LA County's news release.
The ceremony wasn't just your standard athletic pat on the back; it was a communal high-five. The high school warriors were joined by a crowd that included ABC Unified School District board member Sophia Tse and Artesia Councilmember Rene Trevino, who doubles as the team's game announcer. "The Cerritos Dons give us great bragging rights. They've made us all very proud," Hahn proclaimed, as reported by the County of Los Angeles, California.