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George Washington Preparatory Senior High School is celebrating 100 years this year and playing its homecoming game against a team they’ve never won against.
The Generals will be taking on the Crenshaw High School Cougars in a game of redemption and celebration after years of losses, the latest being a 32-0 blowout in 2025.The game will take place at the Prep, which is in the Westmont neighborhood.
This year, the Generals are looking to get on the scoreboard and close the gap against their longtime rivals.
“I can tell that my team wants it, and I feel like this is going to be a different type of outcome,” said Ryan Cooks, a junior defensive back for the Generals.
“We’re going to be determined because we’ve been waiting for this game,” Cooks said. “I feel like everybody is just gonna be out for revenge.”
Beyond the game, the centennial also offers an opportunity to reflect on the generations of students, families and educators who have shaped George Washington Prep’s legacy.
“There’s a lot of rich history at this high school,” said Tony L. Booker, the school’s principal of five years.
“I think just seeing the alumni show up in force is something that I want the kids to understand … sometimes you only see that in college, but I want them to know that we’ve had so many great stories and successful people come out of Washington Prep, and I want the students to be able to make connections with the alumni,” Booker said
Both students and staff at the Prep are hoping for a win on this special night, especially after a multi-year losing streak.
“We have a lot of young men who’ve never played the sport before, and they’re competing at a very high level,” said Kevin “Coach Beast” Brown, the team’s defensive coordinator.
“I want the fans to know that if they come out and root them on as heavily as they can, that [the team is] going to do their best to overexceed their expectations,” Brown said.
With support from the cheerleaders, coaches, the Washington Prep band, JROTC cadets, the South LA neighbors and students from both schools in the stands, the Generals and the Cougars are going to have the moment they’ve all been waiting for.
“It’s going to be a movie” Cooks said. “It’s going to be a good game … it’ll make us feel good about ourselves.”
The homecoming game between George Washington Prep and Crenshaw High School will be on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. at the home of the Generals.
