Five years of anticipation for the Compton football team ends tomorrow. The Tarbabes finally return to campus and will debut their brand-new, state-of-the-art football field in their season opener against Rancho Dominguez at 7pm.
After years of construction on campus, the season opener will serve as the team’s first true home game since Nov. 1, 2019.
“This has meant so much,” Compton coach Calvin Bryant said ahead of the season. “Just to be able to get back, get the energy back in the city, and to get the opportunity to be able to put a product on the field again. We have a bad taste in our mouth with how the season went last year and we want to make something happen a little bit better than what happened last year.”
The game comes as a rematch from Compton’s season-opener a year ago, where the Tarbabes defeated Rancho Dominguez 35-22. The Lobos finished last season with a 6-5 overall record and appeared in the CIF LA City Section Division 3 playoff bracket.
This year will be the second year that the Compton offense will operate in a traditional spread offensive after decades of using Bryant’s patented double-wing formation. Compton will look to quarterback Francis Madera in the pass game, and the junior threw four touchdowns and three interceptions in the season-opener last year.
Around Madera will be a similar group from last year, including pass catchers Nate Willard and tight end Cash Malia. When the Tarbabes look to the ground it’ll be senior running back Ameer Freeman, who had over 100 yards and a touchdown against Rancho Dominguez last year.
“I’m just ready to show everybody that we are not the same Compton. We’re a whole different team,” Freeman said at the Moore League media day. “We got new players, new coaches, everything. We’re about to run it up this year.”
Compton fans will also get a good look at a couple promising transfers, including reiceiver/cornerback Jaelyn Baker-Nelson.
“We’re ready to throw the pads on and go crazy on everybody week one,” said Baker-Nelson. “Every person that steps in front of us that’s not my brother, we’re swiping by them. Every team. We’re just here to work. We’re eager to play.”
