2015 “East L.A. Classic” #1- Bulldogs’ Win Streak Grows To 6 –

Note From The Editor:  Attention all football fans from East Los and beyond, it goes without saying that this posting is a Special Edition  of our Week #10 – “Round-Up”  and we also feature it as our “Game of  The Week.”  We present you with our exclusive and unique coverage of the game “like no other” —– the “81st East L.A. Classic.”

Backgrounder:  This year’s game featured another fantastic “Spirit Week” on both campuses as the community eagerly awaited the “Friday Night Lights”  pageantry of this game. We invite everyone to read our game summary and enjoy the great photo gallery that we’ve assembled for your viewing pleasure. We’re confident that our gallery will provide you with exclusive and balanced content of both schools. We see it as a fitting tribute to the schools, their teams, coaches, student-bodies, administrators, parents, fans, and the communities they represent. In conclusion, another very memorable “Night To Remember!”

 The  2015 Eastern League co-leaders, the Garfield “Bulldogs,” now (5-0), continued their masterful dominance over their longtime archrivals, the Roosevelt “Rough Riders”  now (2-3) in Friday’s 81st  confrontation between the highly storied East L.A. High Schools.

Game Recap: Before an estimated crowd of 17,000+, the Bulldogs showed all facets of their game as they consistently delighted and satisfied their 10,000  fans during the entire evening of festivities.

In the 1st quarter, the Bulldogs opened the scoring at the 6 minute mark when #5 QB/Adam Polanco  connected with #15 TE/Oscar Vega  on a 9 yd. pass. The PAT failed. Then, with 5 minutes left, the Garfield defense intercepted a pass and returned it to the Riders 14 yd. line. After a short, but quick drive, the Dawgs were on the board again after a Polanco  1 yd. scamper into the end zone. This score came at the 3 minute mark. The Bulldogs tried a 2-point convcrsion, but were unsuccessful and left the score at 12-0.

With the 2nd quarter barely a minute old, Garfield went to their aerial attack again and this time Polanco found #3 WR/Marquis Williams  open for a 17 yd. TD pass. At this point, #13 PK/Aaron Rocha  was inserted and easily added the PAT. The score now read Bulldogs (19) – Riders (0). Then with 9 minutes remaining in the half, Garfield recovered a Roosevelt fumble at the Rider   45 yd. line. Just 2 minutes later, QB/Polanco  hooked up on a 20 yd TD pass to #4 WR/Jordan Palmer,  boosting the score to 25-0. Rocha  again came on to kick the extra point. Score was now Garfield (26), Roosevelt (0). Both teams exchanged possessions on downs to finish the first half and they went into their locker rooms to clear the way for the fantastic 30  minute halftime show.  The scoreboard at halftime read Garfield (26), Roosevelt (0).

The 3rd quarter started with Garfield receiving the kick-off and the Bulldog offense rapidly went to work. At the 8 minute mark, “Air Polanco”  completed his third TD pass of the game to #4 WR/Palmer,  this time for 33 yds.  The 2 point conversion was no good, and the score read Bulldogs (32), Rough Riders (0).  While the clock was winding down in the final minute of the 3rd quarter, and after a Rider punt, the Bulldogs brought their 10,000  fans to their feet when #5 QB/ Adam Polanco  ripped off a tremendous 59 yd. rushing TD, going untouched all the way to the Big House. With the successful PAT by PK/Rocha,  the scoreboard now read, Garfield (39), Roosevelt (0).

During the 4th quarter, Garfield appreciably granted much cherished playing time to its many developing underclassmen. They took to the field with much to prove to the coaching staff as well as to their teammates and families. On the Roosevelt side, they finally got untracked and onto the scoreboard at the 3 minute mark when #1 QB/Andrew Gallegos  completed a 55 yd. TD pass to #13 WR/Jonathan Garcia.  The PAT by #11 PK/Hector Gomez  was good. Score was now Bulldogs (39), Riders (7).  Roosevelt Head Coach Javier Cid then asked his special team to execute an on-side kick, and execute it to perfection they did, recovering the ball at the Garfield 43 yd. line. And with just 1 minute remaining in the game, QB/Gallegos  found #9 WR/Daniel Alvarado  open in the end zone for a 12 yd. TD pass. The final point of the game came on PK/Gomez’s  successful PAT. The Bulldogs then ran out the clock after the kick-off and the final score would read Garfield (39) – Roosevelt (14). Garfield could now celebrate its 6th  consecutive victory in the “East L.A. Classic.”

EastLASportsScene.Com’s Players of the Game:

Garfield* – QB/Adam Polanco, Sophomore/9-11 completions/160 yds; 7 rushes/100 yds; 2 rushing TDs; 4 passing TDs; (0) Interceptions; Total Yds/260; accounted for all 6  scores.    Extra Polanco note:  Adam certainly has the football DNA of his grandfather, Henry  and brother, Richard,  as both were his Pop Warner  coaches when he played for the Maravilla “Matadors.”  He now holds the modern era record for the “Classic”  in accounting for 6  TDs in a single game. Roosevelt* – QB/Andrew Gallegos, Senior/2 TD passses; 2 INTs. No other game stats available.

Special Recognition: A huge “Tip of The Hat”  and community outreach acknowledgment to Nike and its First Community Store in California-“East Los”  located at 4585 Whittier Blvd., 90022, right in the heart of East L.A. They provided a special community outreach event for both schools on Wednesday, 10/28 at the store and featured a special presentation by soon-to-be NFL Hall of Famer, USC Trojan  great, and a pillar of the Pittsburgh Steelers  vaunted defense, #43 LB/Troy Polamalu.  It certainly set the tone for the Big Game  in the minds, hearts, and bodies of our outstanding, young student-athletes. Click here for more coverage.

Credits: MaxPreps.com;  Tadzio Garcia, Photographer, EastLASportsScene.Com; Fernando Sanchez,  Game Log/Box Score, Garfield High School; Ezequiel Ordaz,  Youth background statement on Adam Polanco; Nike, Nike East L.A. Community Store Grand Opening; Henry Polanco, Nike Store/Spirit Week Photo with Troy Polamalu; Miguel Torres  and Art Torres,  2015 “East L.A.Classic” Media Credentialing Committee.

Photo Gallery Viewing Tip: Hover over selected picture and click once for an enhanced image.