Finals Fandemonium: Friday's game

Click on the photo to the right to launch a slideshow of fans from the Laguna Hills-Mayfair game on Friday.

The Laguna Hills crowd was late arriving. The visitors' side had few people to start, while the Mayfair crowd showed up early and in bunches.

The Monsoons crowd cheered pregame for its team, led by one middle-age gentleman waiving a mini pom-pom.

When the game started the Hawks crowd was still arriving. There was a line visible at the ticket booth from the press box. It was probably 50 deep for about 15 minutes or so. By the time the second quarter started, the Laguna Hills side was strong, about half-filled for the large Cerritos College stands.

The Hawks fans were loud and into the game. They were cheering every third and fourth down, rising to their feet on the fourth down stops in the fourth quarter. Even when the Hawks were trailing, the crowd didn't let up, urging its team to fight back.

Late in the fourth quarter, both sides were equally loud, passionately cheering as the tense moments played out.

After the final fourth down stop, the Hawks crowd stood and celebrated. It remained standing as the Hawks gained three first downs and held onto the ball for the final four minutes.

I was on the Hawks sideline for the last couple minutes. The players were going crazy and the crowd was definitely loud. When Laguna Hills' Robert Refsynder picked up the last first down, everyone jumped up and started hugging and yelling. People in the stands were doing the same.

Lots of celebrating.

Contact the writer: ctobolski@ocregister.com