There's a method to coach Jim Rose's madness each season of having his Birmingham High football team play only non-City Section opponents for its nonleague games, which usually results in defeat after defeat. Since 2019, the Patriots have won every City Section Open Division title while going 5-19 in nonleague games.
Birmingham hasn't lost to a City Section opponent since 2017, a streak of 42 consecutive wins. The Patriots went 0-5 in nonleague games in 2021 and won the City title. In 2022, with a young team, they went 1-4 and by season's end, routed Garfield 49-13 in the final.
All-City linebacker Eddie Plaza, who caught a 72-yard touchdown pass, said, 'We just have to execute. We're making dumb mistakes. I love how everybody is counting us out. I can't wait to play teams in the Marine League.'
Coach Jim Rose stated, 'Let's see how it plays out. It's learning how to finish, whether it be a play, a drive, a quarter. I feel better than last time.'
The Patriots badly miss All-City quarterback Kingston Tisdell, who decided to take his talents to Inglewood rather than spend a fourth season with the Patriots. There really is no passing game at the moment. But that could change.
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