Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School welcomes ‘Friday Night Lights’ at home for first time

Dr. Joaquin Garcia High takes the field at the start of their first home game Hollywood Hills High September 1, 2023, in Lake Worth.

The “Carolina Blue’’ turf field looked gorgeous, lit by the sun, moments before the inaugural kickoff at Dr. Joaquin Garcia High Friday.

But as expected, the players inside the baby blue uniforms are still green. As by school’s design, no seniors grace Garcia’s halls.

Whether referred to as an expansion team or, as its coach Brandon Walker labels it, “a JV squad”,  the Garcia Bulldogs might struggle to pile up wins in its first season.

But its first-ever home game drew a jam-packed crowd of 2,000 mostly blue-clad fans – among the largest high-school football crowds in Palm Beach County in recent years.

The spanking-new bleachers alongside Lyons Road in Lake Worth were packed. Local politicians showed up to the new stadium.

Visiting Hollywood Hills (Broward County) captured an 18-0 decision and it hardly mattered. What mattered as much was the school spirit, the crowd number and the numbers on the sidelines:  53 players are on varsity.

In fact, the score showed the defense is more than competent as the club trailed just 6-0 at halftime against a school with plenty of seniors.

“Honestly, that’s why we did as well as we did,’’ junior co-captain linebacker Sergio Mesa said of the overflow crowd. “When I was on the field, anytime I was tired, I just looked at the fans. They were hyping me up. I’d say 100 percent they helped me out on the field.’’

As Walker shook hands with Hollywood Hills coaches, one assistant said, “You’re going to have a helluva program.’’

So why the big turnout as the Bulldogs dropped to 0-2, still scoreless after notching just six first downs?

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Dr. Joaquin Garcia High quarterback, #7 Ramon DeLeon, left, looks for an open receiver down field, as Hollywood Hills #32 right attempts a sack during first quarter action of their game against Hollywood Hills High September 1, 2023, in Lake Worth.

“New school, first in Palm Beach County in 20 years,’’ sophomore co-captain linebacker/tight end Dominic Luchina said. “It’s history.’’

“It was great,’’ Walker said. “You want to leave them with a win but our kids competed from start to finish. We did some good things. Just didn’t make plays when we needed to. Situational football, we weren’t good at.’’

The coach was referring to the team going 0-for-4 on fourth-and-short plays.

Walker predicted the defense would be ahead of the offense, which is led by junior quarterback Ramon DeLeon, a Park Vista baseball player last season.

Players from  seven schools make up the deep roster, led by Park Vista’s 10 and Santaluces’ 8 and Palm Beach Central’s four. John I.  Leonard has two and there’s one player apiece from Wellington and Somerset Canyons.

There’s also 32 on the junior varsity.

“We’re playing very well defensively,’ Walker said. “The offense just takes time. Super young and super small up front.’’

Walker himself coached Park Vista last season and bought almost his entire staff with him to Lyons Road.

“To start a program from scratch is a dream,’’ Walker said. “We get to establish everything the way we want to establish it – from culture to philosophy.’’

Dr. Joaquin Garcia High wide receiver, #8 Izayah Harris, right, runs for yards as, Hollywood Hills High #3 Kristian Bailey looks to defend during first quarter action of their game against Hollywood Hills High September 1, 2023, in Lake Worth.

Prior to Friday, Garcia played the preseason Kickoff Classic – a  56-6 defeat to  Olympic Heights. In the season opener, the Bulldogs dropped a 46-0 count to Palm Beach Lakes.

“After the Olympic Heights game, I asked how many of you had ever played in a varsity game before,’’ Walker said. “Only two kids had their hands up.’’

That is why Mesa is so pumped and predicted victory in two weeks after getting a bye next weekend.

“We’re 100 percent capable of beating this team today,’’ Mesa said. “We have to have more discipline. But from the beginning to now, we’ve had a major increase in discipline. In two weeks, when we go up against John I. on this field, I promise you we will win.’’

Too, Walker doesn’t see a winless campaign. “There’s  lot of talented kids but we have to teach them to play football,’’ he said. “ I think there’s opportunities on the schedule to have some success.’’

Friday’s first-ever official play on the baby blue field began promisingly as Izaban Harris returned the opening kick-off 31 yards to the 40. But the series petered out when Garcia was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 from its 45.

Hollywood Hills took possession, scored on an 19-yard touchdown play. The extra point was blocked bu Jayden Golden. It might’ve been the loudest cheer of the night.

The defense buckled down and Hollywood Hills didn’t score the rest of a half that ended with Garcia’s Jayden Morton’s interception at the 10.

Meanwhile Garcia threatened on one drive, moving to the 13 with 2:57 left in the half on good running by Tim Anderson. But they settled for a field-goal try that Sebastian Escobar missed wide left from 29 yards.

On the opening play of the second half, a 67-yard run by Hollywood Hills’ Kristian Bailey was a crusher as the lead became 12-0 and took the wind out of Garcia’s sails.

The DeLeon-led offense just couldn’t score.  “The scoreboard wasn’t great but we had a couple of mental errors,’’ DeLeon  said. “But I loved the enthusiasm, all the screams, the cheerleaders, everything. I love this field. It’s my home.’’

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School welcomes ‘Friday Night Lights’ at home