Resurgent Patrick Henry, 19-9 in three seasons under coach J.T. O’Sullivan and 10-2 in 2021, takes on visiting Lake Balboa Birmingham Saturday night in the Southern California Division III-A playoffs.
San Diego Section schools don’t often play those from the Los Angeles City Section, usually only in postseason matchups such as this.
Birmingham (8-5), which has the same Van Nuys address as when the school opened in 1953, is now identified as representing the district neighborhood of Lake Balboa.
That’s not the only change. Originally known as the Braves but now as Patriots, Birmingham’s mascot is the same as Patrick Henry’s.
Each school also can claim at least one famous Hollywood actor among its alumni. Birmingham has Sally Field from the class of 1963 and Henry has Annette Benning from 1975.
Football fortunes at Henry were decidedly different until O’Sullivan, a former NFL quarterback and University of California-Davis graduate, arrived in 2019.
The Henry Patriots had a combined record of 21-44 from 2013-’18.
Birmingham has been a West Valley League representative and is 62-40 since 2013. Most important, these Patriots are on an eight-game winning streak and averaging 48 points a game following a 44-0 loss to Westlake Village Oaks Christian of the Southern Section.
Cal Preps.com awarded Henry a 28.5 grade and Birmingham 27.1. Max Preps ranks Patrick Henry No. 113 in the state and Birmingham No. 124. Cal-Hi Sports’ rankings stop at 50.
