Note From The Editor: Only two of our CIF/SS covered teams are left standing! Congrats to the Cathedral “Phantoms” and the Bishop Amat “Lancers” on their gigantic quarterfinal victories!! Both defeated their opponents in the Downey “Vikings” and the Oaks Christian “Lions” respectively. As a result, they move on to this week’s Semi-Finals. Cathedral will match up with the La Mirada ” Matadores” for the opportunity to play for the CIF/SS’s Southeast Division 5 title, while Bishop Amat faces the nation’s #1 ranked, St. John Bosco “Braves” for the right to play in the December 5th Finals of the CIF/SS’s Pac-5 Division at Angel Stadium. In the L.A. City Schools playoff scene, our last team standng, the Garfield “Bulldogs,” were eliminated by the powerful and dominant Crenshaw “Cougars.”
Note From The Editor: About This Posting’s Photo Gallery: This posting will feature the Bishop Amat vs. Oaks Christian quarterfinal game played at Bishop Amat, 11/20/15. Great viewing and reading!!
Veterans Seasonal Salute Continued: To continue our commemoration of Veterans Day 2015, we are expanding it to cover all of November and the Christmas Holiday season. All photo galleries will contain graphic posters/pictures of Veterans Day and their appropriate messages. We firmly stand with our valiant Chicano/Latino servicemen and women veterans and salute them with an unwavering and tremendously proud “Thanks” for having performed their duties with strength, courage, and honor to their fullest efforts possible. We commend you and appreciate you always!! If you are one of our followers who is a “Wounded Warrior,” with the Good Lord’s Blessings, may you continue to heal, rehabilitate, and re-connect with your families, friends, mentors, and support groups. Our community will always be here to support you!! Rico Cabrera, Sr./Editor, EastLASportsScene.Com
Credits: Maxpreps.com; Photo gallery and new school record information on Torreahno Sweet, Vince Quiñones, amattdclub.com, Bishop Amat High School
<Week #13 – Friday, 11/20/15> 2nd ROUND/QUARTERFINALS – PLAYOFFS FINAL SCORES & NEXT OPPONENTS
<L.A. City Schools>
Crenshaw (54) Garfield (19) @ Garfield Season Over
<CIF Southern Section>
Bishop Amat (61) Oaks Christian (40) @ Bishop Amat Next : St. John Bosco @ Cerritos College, Fri. 11/27 @ 7:00 pm **SemiFinal Round CIF/Pac-5 Playoff
Cathedral (22) Downey (20) @ Cathedral Next: La Mirada @ Cathedral, Fri. 11/27 @ 7 pm **SemiFinal Round CIF/Southeast D-5 Playoff
<Current Records>
Cathedral 11-1/Angelus Lge. (4-1) Bishop Amat 10-2/Mission Lge. (5-1) Garfield 9-3/Eastern Lge. (6-0)
<Playoff Game Summary By Team> By: Rico Cabrera, Sr./Editor, EastLASportsScene.Com
<L.A. City Schools>
Garfield “Bulldogs” – This Friday Night playoff game started out on a very untimely note for the host Bulldogs, and unfortunately, it stayed that way through this highly anticipated playoff match-up between two top-ranked teams from the Eastside and the Southside of the City. The Crenshaw “Cougars” showcased their longtime playoff experience from the outset and kept up the heavy offensive pressure on the determined, but valiant “Bulldogs.” Costly turnovers, by way of fumbles and interceptions played a major role in the Bulldogs slow start and coupling that with the tremendous defensive pressure brought by the Cougars big, and quick, front four, proved to be a major difference in the game’s progression. They consistently hurried QB/Adam Polanco and forced him into a total of four interceptions in the game, which helped to create an insurmountable lead. The halftime score was Crenshaw 28, Garfield 7. The Bulldogs would never recover from their miscues and it never got better for them in the second half as the visitors cashed in for 26 more points while only giving up 12 to the Bulldogs. When the final horn sounded to end the game, the Cougars showed why they are still a force to be reckoned with in the CIF/L.A. City School’s D-1 playoffs, with the final score reading, 54-19 in their favor. To the Bulldogs, we congratulate you on yet another big accomplishment in reaching the quarterfinals of the CIF/L.A. City Schools playoffs as well as bringing home the Eastern League championship trophy and the 81st “East L.A. Classic” trophy.
Player Stat Lines: (Offense): #5 Adam Polanco/QB/SO/11-24/129/4 INTs; #22 Adrian Espinoza/RB/JR/8 carries-32 yds/2 TDs; #9 Domoinique Snelson/RB/SR/7 carries-53 yds; #7 Brandyn Jordan/RB/FR/9 rushes-49 yds; #4 Jordan Palmer/RB/SR/ 6 recps-62 yds; #3 Marquis Williams/CB-WR/SR/1 carry-27 yds/1 TD; (Defense): #11 Adrian Ravelo/CB/JR/8 tckls/4 solo-4 assts; 1 tckl for loss; #20 Michael De La Torre/DT/SR/5 tckls/3 solo-2 assts/2 tfl.
<CIF Southern Section>
Bishop Amat “Lancers” – The much anticipated clash of these two high school powerhouses did not disappoint the schools’ fans nor the SoCal high school football fandom either. It was a classic “shoot-out” from beginning to end as the home team took another gigantic step to a repeat of last year’s accomplishment of returning to the PAC-5 Division’s Semifinal game this Friday. Much of the Amat “fireworks” show took place in the 1st quarter when Coach Hagerty’s potent offense went to work and put up three TDs via the strength of Torreahno Sweet and his bruising rushing style. QB/Damian Garcia was the ultimate field marshall as he resorted to excellent play-calling and his heavy arsenal of weapons to lead the Amat assault on Oaks Christian. The halftime score was Amat 35, Oaks 20. The second half was interesting due to a rally by Oaks that cut the Lancer lead to just five at 38-33 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. To eliminate the threat, the Lancers revved up their engine for one more decisive attack and pushed their lead back up to 28 points (61-33) as Damian Garcia etched his Picasso signature on a 55 yd open field run with 6 minutes left in the high-scoring third quarter. Give much credit to Oaks as they never gave up. Their air attack was a masterpiece to watch as Matt Corral/QB/SO connected with Michael Pittman/WR/SR for five TDs in the game. Their numbers reflect the following eye-popping stats: Pittman, 18 receptions-386 yds and Corral, 24 compl-42 attempts/435 yds/5 TDs on the night. Final score...Lancers 61-Lions 40. On a media footnote, the game drew a high cablecast viewer rating on Fox Sports West for this “Friday Night Lights” showcase.
Next up in the semifinal, the Lancers are matched up with the #1 team in the country, the St. John Bosco “Braves” and it should be a fantastic game at a neutral site, Cerritos College. The playing field should be very even for this blockbuster match-up. Make plans to attend early since it is already looming as sell-out. If you can’t make it, then you can watch on PrepZone West on your computer at 7pm. Go Lancers!!
Player Stat Lines: (Offense): #7 Damian Garcia/QB/SR/17-26/211 yds/3 passing TDs/6 carries-80 yds/1 rushing TD-55 yds/1 Int; #20 *Torreahno Sweet/RB/SR/34 carries-371 yds/3 rushing TDs/Long-77 yds;(Broke single season rushing with 371 yds in Oaks Christian win. Previous record held by Mike Wagner, set in 1998. Also broke single season TD record of 29 (now has 35) during the Norco 1st round playoff game, 11/13/15.). #1 Tyler Vaughns/WR-CB/SR/8 Recps/75 yds/1 TD pass/1 Int; #86 Xavier Chavez/TE/SR/1 TD pass; #2 Trevon Sidney/WR/SO/1 TD pass; (Defense): # 55 Matt Terlizzi/LB/SR/13 tckls/8 solo-5 assts/#14 Matthew Gonzalez/SS/JR/10 tckls/7 solo-3 assts/3 tfl; #13 Aaron Austin/SS/SR/11 tckls/8 solo-3 assts; #91 Ryan Muñoz/DT/SR/7 tckls/3 solo-4 assts; #77 Aaron Maldonado/NG/SO/4 tckls/3-solo-1 asst/2 sacks.
Cathedral “Phantoms” – “Hard fought,” “well-played,” “went down to the wire,” “it’s what high school playoffs are all about” —– just a few phrases that fans used to describe the terrific battle that took place under the “Friday Night Lights” at Downey High School in one of the better 2015 playoff games of any bracket. The Phantoms prevailed due to the heroics of #18 Aaron Howard as he knifed through the Vikings offensive line to block a last second-game winning field goal attempt. With that spectacular, and most memorable play of the season, Head Coach Kevin Pearson and his team, live to fight another battle on their quest to win the CIF/Southern Section’s Southeast Div. V championship. The odds are back in Cathedral’s favor as they’ve earned a huge semifinal home game and therefore a tremendous game-day advantage. Their semifinal opponent is La Mirada which brings the following accomplishments with them to the match-up: 1) a (9-3) overall record; 2) a stingy defense that’s only surrendered 207 points all season long; 3) a CIF Southeast Division V top ranking; 4) an 8 game winning streak; and 5) a very respectable National ranking of (#730) and a California ranking of (#64) . The Phantoms rankings are (#1,275) nationally, and (#105) in California. Should be another great high school game to watch. Try to find, and then buy your tickets as soon as possible, as this game will surely be “sell-out.” Go Phantoms!!
Player Stat Lines: (Offense): #4 Brandon Tovar/QB/JR/25-36/328 yds/2 TDs/QB Rating-104.9; #11 Renard Bell/WR/SR/9 Recps-90 yds/Long-37 yds; #2 Arex Flemings/WR/JR/8 recps-72 yds/1TD/Long-27 yds; #6 Jamire Calvin/WR/JR/2 recps-66 yds/1 TD/Long 37 yds; #38 Ricardo Quintero/PK-Punter/SR/1-2 PATs/1-1 FG/4 Points; (Defense): #9 Hunter Echols/DE/SR/15 tckls/11 solo-4 assts/2.5 sacks; #21 Rhedi Short/OLB/JR/12 tckls/6 solo-6 assts/1 tfl; #3 Marlon Moorer/OLB/JR/10 tckls/2 solo-8 assts/2 tfl; #18 *Aaron Howard/CB/SO/11 tckls/7 solo-4 assts/1 sack/1 blocked FG. *Voted Player Of The Game for blocked field goal attempt with :02 seconds remaining in game. This play preserved the lead and gave the Phantoms one of the most memorable wins in school history.
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