After participating in away games all semester, the Pierce College football team will finally be playing their first home game Saturday at 7 p.m. in Shepard Stadium.
The upcoming game is the team’s season ender.
Though the football field itself has been ready for months, construction of Shepard Stadium’s visitor section is not yet finished, said Athletic Director Bob Lofrano.
“The workers got to a point where they OK-ed having a crowd at the stadium,” he said. “[The stadium] is now ready for us to bring people in.”
The stadium will again be turned into a construction zone Sunday, and it will take another two months before construction will be completed, said Lofrano.
The Brahmas and longtime rival Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs will be playing for the rights to the San Fernando Valley Victory Bell, a trophy given to the winner of the annual Valley-Pierce game.
“It symbolizes our rivalry against Valley,” said 21-year-old offensive lineman Casey McDonagh.
Pierce has kept the victory bell for the past two years.
“[The home field advantage] will help motivate us to beat Valley,” McDonagh said.
Despite the fact that the football players have never set foot, much less practice, on the newly remodeled stadium, they are confident that they will perform well.
“It’s going to be a new environment, but we’re not going to let that be an excuse,” said 20-year-old defensive tackle Marquel Combs.
