The full passion, pageantry and tradition of the Route 126 rivalry has returned this week.
Interrupted and then altered the past few seasons by wildfire and pandemic, Ventura County’s oldest rivalry makes its first return to Jones Field in Santa Paula since 2017 on Friday night. It will be the 110th meeting between the two schools.
“Everybody is clamoring for tickets,” Santa Paula head coach Mike Montoya said. “That’s biggest sign that it’s back in full effect.”
Fillmore head coach Charlie Weis marveled at the long line for tickets on campus on Wednesday, when the game sold out in hours.
“There’s a line down the street to pick up tickets,” Weis said. “I’ve got family members calling me. Everybody is fighting and scrambling to try to get in. … Last year, we didn’t get to do this.”
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In the pandemic-shortened spring season, Santa Paula beat Fillmore, 28-16, in April, winning the Leather Helmet back in the first meeting between the two rivals in nearly 2 1/2 years.
The 2019 game was canceled due to the Maria Fire. The 2020 game was postponed, and then played on Easter weekend before a limited crowd of 400 friends and family members.
This week, it has returned nearly to full participation of the students, completed with pep rallies and student sections.
“Hopefully, it’ll give our student bodies a sense of tradition and normalcy because that’s really what they’ve missed the last couple years,” said Santa Paula athletic director Kelley Payne.
The game, itself, will revolve around the teams’ ability to slow a pair of legacy playmakers forged by the tradition of this game.
Fillmore’s offense revolves around running back Anthony Chessani Jr., whose father also wore No. 42 when he played for Fillmore.
“He’s told me (in this rivalry) you have to come out and want it more,” Chessani said.
The 16-year-old junior, who also plays basketball and baseball for the Flashes, leads Ventura County with 19 touchdowns and 120 points.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Weis said. “There’s is no celling to what he can do. Clearly, we feature him. He’s the perfect representation of this team. He gets better every week and so does the team.”
Chessani, who ran for two scores and caught a 57-yard TD pass from Joey Holladay last week, models himself after Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.
“He’s fast, he can catch … he can do it all,” said Chessani, who has rushed for 979 yards on 117 carries and caught 15 passes for another 235 yards.
Montoya understands the challenge his defense is facing.
“On film, he jumps out at you,” Montoya said. “He runs hard and he runs with physicality. He’s a lot faster than he looks. It’s going to be a challenge dealing with him on Friday night.”
Santa Paula’s Richard Vega presents the Fillmore with similar problems.
Vega started his senior year as a big-play receiver, but has also spent some snaps as a running back as the season has progressed.
“Just call him an athlete,” Montoya said. “We move him around to try to get him the ball in space. He’s one of our do-it-all guys. He’s a heck of a weapon.”
Vega leads the Cardinals with 594 all-purpose yards, including 391 yards receiving on 33 catches, and six touchdowns.
He ran for 107 yards on seven carries in 47-30 win over Rancho Christian last month.
“I just go wherever Coach puts me,” Vega said. “As long as I get the ball in my hands, I’m happy.”
Fillmore (5-3) is coming off a dramatic 28-27 loss to defending Citrus Coast League champion Hueneme, who stopped a Fillmore two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds.
“We put our best effort out there last week and we came up a yard short,” Weis said. “I’m going to stay positive.
“They’re a good, well-rounded team. I’m confident both teams will go into it well prepared. It’s all about the approach the kids have. It’s all mental.”
Winning back the Leather Helmet trophy would go a long way to salving those wounds.
“We need the Helmet back,” said Chessani.
Santa Paula (3-5) expects a physical game.
“We’re similar in that we both want to establish a physical running game,” Montoya said. “Being able to somewhat slow down their running game is going to be a big factor.”
Similar to Chessani, Vega’s grandfather and father — also named Richard — both lined up for Santa Paula against Fillmore.
“It’s crazy being here now,” Vega said. “I remember when I was younger and would come to the games, thinking that someday I’d be out on that field. … Now I look and there’s other little kids probably thinking that, too.”
It’s part of the magic of the Fillmore-Santa Paula rivalry. And why, during the age of transfers, one of Southern California’s oldest rivalries also remains one of its best.
“It’s high school football at its purest,” Montoya said. “Small-town high school versus small-town high school. It’s a dying breed nowadays. It’s what makes the rivalry so great.”
Joe Curley covers high school, collegiate and professional football for The Star. He can be reached at [email protected]. For more coverage of local high school sports, follow @vcspreps on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.