But on Oct. 25, more than two years after earning their high school diploma, the two friends will meet again on the football field— and this time they’ll be on opposite sidelines. In an unlikely turn of events, Holton and Lagomarsino ended up going to colleges in the same state. Holton attends Hobart College in upstate New York and Lagomarsino attends the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, which is off Long Island. Both colleges compete in the Division III Liberty League. Lagomarsino was already at the academy when Holton called him last year to inform him of his college decision. Neither could believe their good fortune.

“When he told me he was going to this small school in New York that I had probably never heard of, I was pretty excited,” Lagomarsino said. “But when he told me it was Hobart, I said, ‘No way! Dude, you’re in my conference and we’re going to play each other!’ He didn’t know we were in the same league.”

Said Holton: “It’s pretty ridiculous that we’re going to play each other. We’re both pretty amazed and happy how everything turned out.”

No kidding. Lagomarsino’s parents and Holton’s mom are traveling together to see the Oct. 25 game. Both players took different paths to the East Coast. Holton spent the last two years at City College of San Francisco, playing a safety reserve role for one of the top junior college football programs in the nation. Upon a recommendation from Rams coach George Rush, Holton took a visit to Hobart and knew the fit was right.

He arrived in New York Wednesday night and will start his junior year in a couple of weeks. Lagomarsino, a sophomore, spent his first year out of high school at Northwestern, a prep school in San Bernardino. Initially, Lagomarsino wanted to attend the Naval Academy, but he didn’t gain admission out of Aragon and went to Northwestern on a recommendation from former U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo. It was there Lagomarsino found out about the Merchant Marine Academy and the number of options it had to offer.

“I’ll be learning everything on how to be a mariner while I’m here, but once I’m done I can either make money as a civilian or go into service,” he said. “The unique thing about this academy is if you go to any of the other service academies — the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force or Coast Guard — when you graduate you go to that particular service. You come here you can go to any service of active duty or go into what’s called a Navy reserve merchant marine, which means you’re civilian working on an oil tanker or ship.”

Lagomarsino’s ultimate goal is to become a fighter pilot. Holton is majoring in architecture and plans on a career either in that field or coaching football. A big part of their bond is rooted in sports. At Borel the two played together on the basketball and track and field team. At Aragon they were known for their tough and physical play, often converging on a hapless ballcarrier at the same time for crunching hits.

Holton still plays safety, but Lagomarsino, after playing linebacker for most of his career, was recently switched to tight end. If the two are healthy for the Oct. 25 game — they’ll both be in the mix for starting roles on their respective teams — an epic collision could be in the works. Bring it on, they said. When Holton was asked if he would have any qualms about hitting Lagomarsino flat on his back if he got the chance, he didn’t hesitate.

“None at all,” Holton said. “I’m sure he feels the same way. If I get the chance to hit him, I’m definitely not going to pass it up.”

Said Lagomarsino: “I might have to run across the middle, and I’ll have to watch him in the corner of my eye or he’ll get me on the chin. I fully expect him to lay me out if he has the opportunity. Hopefully I’ll get the ball in the numbers and give him a good stiff arm.”

Holton and Lagomarsino’s friendship is built on a bedrock of respect. Both are extremely competitive, almost to a fault. That’s why even though they’re good friends, don’t expect either to back off when their teams play. The trash-talking started the moment the two realized they would be going up against each other, as Holton told his buddy, “Get ready for a stomping.”

“Scott’s a tough competitor,” Lagomarsino said. “I remember when we were in the sixth grade he was diving all over the place for the ball.”

Holton said Lagomarsino is the most competitive person he’s ever met: “With Lago it’s a very thin line between love and hate. He’s so competitive that he needs to feel he’s right about everything. He’ll argue with you about the diameter of a toilet seat if it comes down to that.”

The two already had a memorable collision during their freshman year at Aragon. Holton spent time on the varsity that season but was sent back down to the frosh-soph squad. It didn’t take long for the two to go heads-up in a drill.

“We were both talking trash,” Holton said. “I’m sure he wanted to give me a good lick.”

What happened next was a violent collision that left both players on the ground.

“I think I’ll speak for Lago as well as myself that we hit each other so hard we can’t remember what happened next,” Holton said. “That’s the kind of memory I have with him. I can’t wait to make new ones.”