Football: Garfield moves up to top division

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In the City Section, schools have a choice -- to play in the City Championship Division or the City Invitational. Garfield has played football for years in the Invitational but has decided to take on the big boys. The Bulldogs are moving to the Championship Division this fall. They should be congratulated.

‘We’re scared,’ Coach Lorenzo Hernandez said. ‘No, I’m joking. It’s a question thrown around a lot. Why don’t certain teams move up? We’re confident playing anybody will make us better.’

The Bulldogs will get an immediate idea of where they stand by opening the season on Sept. 4 against defending City champion Birmingham.

Hamilton is also making the move up to the Championship Division.

Here’s the complete rundown of teams separated by divisions in the City Section.

Championship: Crenshaw, Dorsey, Fremont, Locke, Banning, Carson, Gardena, Narbonne, San Pedro, Washington, Hamilton, Venice, Westchester, Garfield, Jordan, Kennedy, San Fernando, Sylmar, Birmingham, Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Taft.

Invitational: Jefferson, Manual Arts, Fairfax, University, Bell, Huntington Park, Roosevelt, South East, South Gate, Belmont, Eagle Rock, Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall, Wilson, Bernstein, Contreras, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Santee, West Adams, Arleta, Canoga Park, Grant, North Hollywood, Poly, Van Nuys, Verdugo Hills, Monroe, Panorama, Reseda, Cleveland, El Camino Real.

-- Eric Sondheimer