Birmingham’s Jonino Liangco #24 straight-arms Harvard-Westlake’s Evan Roderick #18 during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
VAN NUYS – Birmingham debuted an upgraded stadium on Friday, the venue complete with a new, state-of-the-art turf playing surface, an all-weather track and a giant video board.
More importantly, the Patriots unveiled a quarterback more than capable of getting the ball to their star receivers and a defense full of playmakers.
Birmingham forced five turnovers and beat Harvard-Westlake 34-0. The game served as both the Patriots’ first true home game in 665 days and as validation that they are contenders in the CIF Los Angeles City Section Open Division.
Harvard-Westlake’s Charlie Fuller #10 carries the ball during their game against Birmingham at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Birmingham battles Harvard-Westlake on their new field during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harvard-Westlake’s Brendan Kang #11 makes catch as Birmingham’s Delamonte Barnes #7 defends during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Birmingham’s Jonino Liangco #24 straight-arms Harvard-Westlake’s Evan Roderick #18 during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Birmingham’s Jonino Liangco #24 straight-arms Harvard-Westlake’s Evan Roderick #18 during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Birmingham players run onto their new field for the first time before their game against Harvard-Westlake at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Birmingham’s Angel Perez #10 attempts to avoid the tackle to Harvard-Westlake’s Evan Roderick #18 during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harvard-Westlake’s Marshall Howe #4 passes the ball during their game against Birmingham at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Birmingham quarterback Jackson Dadich #4 passes the ball during their game against Harvard-Westlake at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Birmingham quarterback Jackson Dadich #4 passes the ball during their game against Harvard-Westlake at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Birmingham’s Arlis Boardingham #42 carries the ball as Harvard-Westlake’s Chase Harleston #5 pursues during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Birmingham’s Jonino Liangco #24 celebrates scoring a touchdown during their game at against Harvard-Westlake Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Birmingham’s Michael Lopez #10 congratulates Jonino Liangco #24 after Liangco scored a touchdown during their game against Harvard-Westlake at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harvard-Westlake’s Jason Thompson #1 is swarmed by Birmingham defenders during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harvard-Westlake’s Matteo Perez #30 and Birmingham’s Roy Depaz #28 chase an onside kick during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harvard-Westlake’s Charlie Wang #31 is brought down by Birmingham’s Anderson Morales #30 during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harvard-Westlake’s Charlie Wang #31 carries the ball as Birmingham’s Marcus Arthur #3 attempts the tackle during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harvard-Westlake’s Charlie Wang #31 carries the ball as Birmingham’s Gabe Rothhammer #44 and Anderson Morales #30 move in for the stop during their game at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harvard-Westlake quarterback Marshall Howe # passes the ball during their game against Birmingham at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa Friday, August 23, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Jackson Dadich, a junior transfer from Cathedral, completed 24 of 32 passes for 325 yards. He accounted for three total touchdowns and connected on his first eight passes after halftime, helping extend the Patriots’ 13-0 lead at the break to 27-0 after three quarters.
Dadich’s top target was sophomore Arlis Boardingham, who caught six passes for 147 yards. Dadich and Boardingham connected on a back-breaking 73-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.
“I mean, he went off. He was crazy. He was doing his thing,” Dadich said.
Dadich described playing on the new turf field, the construction of which kept the Patriots on the road for the entire 2018 season, as something straight out of a movie.
“It was great. The lights, the stands, the new Jumbotron, the whole field,” said Dadich. “It was a great atmosphere.”
Harvard-Westlake had its chances. The Wolverines’ first two drives of the game started in Birmingham territory, but both ended in turnovers.
Marshall Howe threw for 185 yards and two interceptions for the Wolverines in his first game since taking the place of Jameson Wang, who transferred to Oaks Christian after last season. Harvard-Westlake also has a new coach, Ramsey Lambert stepping in as interim head coach after Michael Burnett resigned earlier this month.
“The most challenging part is that it was an offense run by a guy that was good at that offense,” Lambert said. “I was working with the defense, so having to pick up and crash learn on the go has been the challenge.”
The Patriots project as a contender in the CIF Los Angeles City Section Open Division, and with the uncertainty surrounding perennial-favorite Narbonne, the bracket conceivably could be up for grabs.
Multiple reports have said that LAUSD’s investigation into alleged academic misconduct at Narbonne — a probe that began in May — has lingered into August, leaving the Gauchos without head coach Manuel Douglas and without a definitive answer as to what it all means for the 2019 postseason. Douglas was reassigned from his duties by LAUSD in May.
