Earlier in the week, they had steamed Cappuccino High School in a scrimmage, gaining confidence for the Mills game.

The Cardinals only had one defensive miscue and finished the first half leading, 22-12. “We didn’t play our best in the beginning, but during the second half, we raised our level and focus,” Navarro said.

Senior wing back Bismark Navarro ran all over the Vikings, scoring four out of the Cardinals’ five touchdowns en route to the 34-12 win.

The Cardinals’ victory over Mills came despite several benched players and early injuries. Just before the game, two Cardinal players were involved in a physical altercation in the courtyard that caused their suspension from the game.

During the second half, senior star linebacker Jairo Rueda strained his hamstring, forcing him to miss the third quarter. But Rueda was determined not to let his injury stop him, and charged on in the fourth quarter, laying a defenseless Viking receiver out.

Senior lineman Andrew Lee and senior center Casey Bates also sustained injuries, but that should not affect the Cardinals’ long-term prospects, which they hope include winning Turkey Day for the first time in two years.

“We’ve slumped the past years due to excessive cockiness, low amount of players, and exhaustion,” said Navarro, when asked why Lowell hasn’t won the city championships in two years.

So what makes them different from the years before? “We have a lot more people who want to be on the football team and more players who are coming back,” Navarro said. “We have players that now have more experience and have learned from their mistakes.”

That learning includes hard and gritty practices involving drills, technique and game planning, summer-long conditioning and even the occasional “double day,” or two practices in one day.

If a player fumbles repeatedly during practices, “that certain member of the team has to carry a football around school all day indefinitely because of his failed ball security,” junior Wang Han said. These players are training to always be on guard and in shape, ready for whatever the opposition has to give.

A thirst for revenge is also a driving factor for this year’s team, with vivid memories of last year’s second-place AAA finish in many players’ minds. “Returning players still have that fire from Turkey Day last year,” junior Shant Siyahian said. “We are looking forward to avenging that loss.”

The Cardinals are hoping to see many supporters at their game against Washington, the highly-anticipated Battle of the Birds game at 7 p.m. on Sep. 28 at Kezar Pavilion. Rueda encourages Lowell students to show their support and school pride. “This season is going to be filled with a lot of emotions, highlights and nail-biting games, so don’t miss it,” he said.