Jacob Baty or “Baty,” as he’s known by most of his friends, has been playing football since he was a freshman in high school. Even though his reign started only four years ago, football had been in his family for years.

Playing football was like a family tradition– a title that Baty was meant to uphold even before he was born. With all the influences around him it was only obvious that he played for Ayala’s football team. With his father being a coach for longer than he was born and his uncle being in the NFL, there was no shortage of influences. And although there were so many people to look up to, his older brother, Adam was the most prominent. 

“[Adam] started working out really hard and just wanting to play for the team, be a contributor and that’s kind of where I got my start as I started lifting with him and got better with him,” Baty said. “Adam, he’s key.”

During his freshman year of high school, Baty got put onto the varsity team in the sixth week of school, but junior year will be the first year he is starting for the team, playing as right guard on offensive line. 

As Battle for the Bone is coming up, there’s a reputation that Ayala has to uphold. Against Chino Hills High School, Ayala has won five times in a row, and all the players are hopeful to make it six years. With the Battle for the Bone being the biggest game of the year, there will be many people there to witness the big win, or the big loss, and a lot of pressure on the Varsity football players. 

“I feel good,” Baty said. “We’re well rested, [and] the whole team is pretty much healthy and ready to go.”

With big dreams of making it a 6-peat, the game is going to be Friday the fifteenth (9/15) and tickets are selling for $10 each (limited to 4 per each person) and free for USB card holders.

“I think [Jake] will do good if he focuses up,” senior Niko Partida, one of the three football team captains, said. “I think it’s going to be a good game. I think that we’re going to be able to win again for the sixth time in a row.”

Senior Wyatt Summerford, one of the football captains, has known Baty since he was a freshman, and knew his older brother and father before that. 

“I think [Jake] is gonna do good,” Summerford said. “He’s goofy, likes to have fun- like everyone else. But he’s a good athlete. He gets locked in.”

With having done football for so many years, it means so much more to Baty than just a game. Football is a way to make new friends, a way to form a family outside of your own.

“Football means hard work, dedication, pride in your team, your family.” Baty said. “Football is more of a brotherhood than anything else. I have brothers on my team, and I treat them like my family.”