The stage was set for an unforgettable sports adventure. With two thrilling college football games on the docket, we embarked on a quest to witness both the San Diego State Aztecs facing the UCLA Bruins and the Stanford Cardinal taking on the USC Trojans in a single day to celebrate Fernando's birthday.
Our day kicked off with an early drive to the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The Rose Bowl is one of the oldest and most historic stadiums in the United States. It was built in 1922 and has a rich history that spans nearly a century. The backdrop of the picturesque San Gabriel Mountains and the scenic beauty of the location adds to the overall experience.
In the first quarter, the Aztecs and the Bruins exchanged possessions, but neither managed to score. The second quarter saw the Aztecs making their move and their offense orchestrated an impressive drive, resulting in a touchdown pass. Aztecs took the lead and the Bruins responded with a field goal, reducing the deficit as the half drew to a close.
In the second half, both teams continued to battle fiercely and the third quarter ended with the Aztecs maintaining a narrow advantage. During the t-shirt toss, Dylan scored a new cleaning rag!
In the final quarter, the Bruins pushed to regain the lead. Their offense executed a drive, resulting in a touchdown that brought the score to a tie. With the game hanging in the balance, the Aztecs moved steadily down the field and capped it off with a clutch field goal. The Aztecs' defense then held firm, denying the Bruins any opportunity for a late-game comeback.
We were high-fiving Aztec fans as we walked to the car and quickly made our way to the Coliseum.
We made it to USC in time for pre-game rituals. We watched USC's renowned marching band, "The Spirit of Troy," perform near Tommy Trojan, spent a small fortune at the bookstore, and kick the flagpoles on the edge of campus for good luck.
The game started out slow for the Trojans with Stanford taking an early 17-3 lead in the second quarter. However, USC freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis shined in his debut and turned a tough matchup into 35-unanswered points. This was not surprising considering his high school coach was Kurt Warner.
The Trojans dominated the rest of the game with a 42-3 run including four touchdown drives of 70 plus yards. Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns and Tyler Vaughns added another touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap off the victory.
After the victory, we had our post-game tradition - bacon-wrapped hot dogs with grilled onions and peppers from a street vendor outside the Coliseum with a make-shift food cart.
There are game days, and there are legendary game days. This definitely goes into the legendary category. We will never forget the thrill of back-to-back victories. Plus, it's always a good day when we Beat the Bruins and Fight On!