October 10th 2019 Mcfarland Cougars and Taft High Wildcats met up at J & M’s Cafe in Bakersfield to discuss the upcoming rivalry game against Taft High and Mcfarland and to kick off the new tradition. 

Mcfarland and Taft High work together because we are in the S.S.L., which is Mcfarland’s first year in the S.S.L. Robert Ramirez, Taft Union High School’s Athletic Director said, “because we are two small schools in the S.S.L., we’re both cats, and that’s how we came up with the idea of King of the Cats.” 

Ramirez also explained to us the history behind the coaches that have accepted the challenge to participate in this rivalry. Coach George Falgout and Coach Casey Quinn have coached against each other before at rivalry games like this in Fresno, California; that’s also how they got the idea of this rivalry between the two schools. 

Friday night Mcfarland’s retired baseball coaching legend John Weger threw the honorary coin toss and both teams fought to win the trophy at Mcfarland’s stadium. Some players were excited and nervous to come speak to their upcoming rival. Wildcat Jacob Ellis said, “I think breakfast is cool and I’m glad to be a part of the first year of doing this rivalry; the players are chill. I was a little nervous coming into this, but now I feel like I can talk to anyone”. 

The team is also very prepared for the upcoming game. Coach Falgout said, “If we do the things we plan to do, we will [have a] successful Friday night.” The bye week may have hurt or helped Taft’s Wildcats. Coach Falgout also said, “Bye week helped us because we touched up on things we couldn’t before and we got a head start.” He described the team’s best qualities: “Offense practicing and we have a good game planned, we are accomplishing what is to come.” 

Asking the Wildcats and the Cougars what their thoughts are for this rival game Frank Rosche from the Taft Wildcats said, “I feel good; if we have full potential we have a chance at winning” and Julian Avila from the Cougars said, “I think this upcoming game will be something to learn from, and I think we will win if we put all effort into it.”  Mcfarland’s administrators, Coach Casey Quinn, Nick Salinas (senior who plays defensive guard), Juan Avila (senior who plays quarterback), ASB President, Drum Major and cheer captains attended alongside representatives from Taft Union High School: Athletic Director Robert Ramirez, Coach Falgout, Austin Massey (senior who plays corner and wide receiver), Jacob Ellis (senior who plays wide receiver and outside linebacker), Brett Walls (senior who plays wide receiver and linebacker), Jeb Burke (senior cheer captain), Emma Neudorf (junior cheer captain), Presley (last name) junior drum major and Regan Barnachia (senior who is Taft High’s ASB president) all joined in this breakfast and talked to their rivals and about the upcoming game Friday.