The University of La Verne football team plays their home opener tomorrow in an exhibition game against the Centro de Enseñanza Tecníca y Superior (CETYS).
The Details:
Kickoff: 5 p.m.
Stadium: Ortmayer Stadium, La Verne, Calif.
La Verne (0-1, 0-0 SCIAC); Complete Schedule, Roster
CETYS (0-2)
La Verne
The Leopards have a unique situation Saturday against CETYS. The SCIAC allowed the conference's football member to schedule a tenth game this season which opened up a spot for CETYS. The game will not count towards La Verne's record but will allow the Leopards to evaluate its talent in a real game situation. After a disappointing loss in Spokane last week, Saturday's game will allow La Verne to work out its kinks before heading back into regular season play against Puget Sound next week.
CETYS
Saturday's game is an important match-up for the Zorros as well. CETYS is a WASC accredited, academically elite, private Mexican institution with a total of 7,600 students at three campuses in Tijuana, Mexicali, and Ensenada. They are in the middle of a multi-year process to join NCAA Division II and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference for football and the California Collegiate Athletic Association for all other sports. This will be CETYS' third game this season against an American university. The Zorros took on Ottawa (AZ) two weeks ago falling 51-19 before hosting Occidental in Mexicali last week losing to the Tigers 20-0.
La Verne scrimmaged CETYS in volleyball earlier this year and played an exhibition against the Zorros in baseball last season.
New York Times article about CETYS Athletics | Information about NCAA Ruling on Mexcian institutions
The Game
In what is already one of the most unique games the Leopards have ever played in, one more wrinkle is thrown into the mix. Although one institution, CETYS has athletic departments in both Tijuana and Mexicali. So the Leopards will in fact be playing two teams tomorrow the CETYS Mexicali squad led by Head Coach Ángel Medina will face off against the Leopards in the first and third quarters, and the CETYS Tijuana squad led by Head Coach Ernesto Campa will play the Leopards in the second and fourth quarters.
The two departments are expected to combine at the Tijuana campus prior to joining the NCAA.
History
This will be just the second time the Leopards have squared off against a Mexican university in football. In 1953 the Leopards played Mexico City, losing that game 40-7.
Pregame Ceremony
La Verne will recognize Don Boots, Noel Gilbert, Ruben Gonzalez, and Roman Morales, four members of the 1953 team, prior to tomorrow's game.
How to Follow
Tomorrow game will be broadcast on leopardathletics.com with Leo FM on the call.
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