(Weingart Stadium, East Los Angeles College) The undefeated Garfield Bulldogs, (10-0) Overall and (6-0) Eastern League, won their ninth consecutive League title, and at the same time made it nine in-a-row, (2010-2018), over their archival, the Roosevelt Rough Riders. The final score of the game was (35-15) in last Friday’s “84th Annual East L.A. Classic.” East L.A. Sports Scene was present and produced a webcast, featuring it as the “High School Game of the Week.” Both schools now lay claim to (42) wins each in this highly followed traditional Classic match-up.
Playoff Picture: As the other three Divisional playoffs are set to begin this week, the #6 seed Bulldogs, will have a full week to rest and prepare for a much anticipated match-up with the #3 seed, Carson Colts on Friday, November 9th at Carson in the CIF/L.A. City Section’s “Open” Division Championship Tournament. The Open Field has a total of eight teams while the other Divisions, I-II-III-IV, have sixteen. The Open Division final will be played on Friday, November 23rd at El Camino Community College in Torrance, CA.
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Meanwhile, Roosevelt, now (6-4) overall and (3-3) in Eastern League play, earned itself a #7 seed in the L.A. City Section’s Division II Tournament and will host the #10 seed, Verdugo Hills Dons this coming Friday, November 2nd. Kick-off is set for 7 pm.
To see the full L.A. City Section tournament brackets for All Divisions, click here.
“84th East L.A. Classic” Game Summary:
1st Qtr...The Bulldogs wasted no time in establishing their early game preferred method of attack. With #18/SO/QB/Jonathan Bautista getting the starting assignment, and on their first play from scrimmage, he went deep, and up-top, to #7/WR/JR/Thomas Serrano, who was all alone at the Roosevelt 45 yard line. He gracefully slipped a couple of tackles before finally being brought down at the Riders 20 yd. line. Moments later, the Bulldogs had their first score when Bautista found his outstretched #11/WR/SR/Bruce Gonzalez at the 1 yd. line who then fell in a picture-perfect form into the end zone for the Bulldogs first score. The PAT by #16/PK/JR/Fabian Muñoz-Rodriguez was perfect. On their next possession, #1/RB/JR/P.J. Garcia shot the gap up the middle for a five yard TD. The PAT, a fake conversion, failed, leaving the score, Garfield 13, Roosevelt 0. The Bulldogs methodically added two more scores on a 15 yd. bootleg option around left end by Bautista. This was then followed by an electrifying 75 yd. “Pick 6” by #9/DB/SR/Angel Hidalgo, who easily intercepted an errant Rough Rider wingback pass-option play to a wide receiver. The score at the completion of the first quarter was Garfield 28, Roosevelt 0.
2nd Qtr—The Riders put up their first TD of the game at the (4:52) mark in the period when #6/RB/JR/Frankie Cruz set off on a sweep right and then found another seam five more yards up-field. After that it was a foot race against Bulldog #4/CB/SR/Andrew Hernandez to the end zone. At the end of the play, although Cruz scored on the 55 yd. run from scrimmage, it was obvious that he had probably turned his ankle due to the awkward tackle from behind at the 1 yard line. Garfield closed out the scoring at the (2:31) mark, when Bautista connected on a nicely executed 55 yard “Catch & Run” pass to #7/WR/JR/Thomas Serrano. Muñoz-Rodriguez’s PAT was good.
HALFTIME SCORE: Garfield 35 Roosevelt 7
3rd Qtr—Both teams had severalpossessions but were unable to put up any points. Of Significance…#6/RB/JR Frankie Cruz, did not re-enter the game due to badly spraining his right ankle after scoring his 2nd period TD run. In addition, the Riders were plagued by numerous penalties coupled with turnovers, that kept them in poor field position for most of the game.
4th Qtr—Garfield Head Coach Lorenzo Hernandez and his Coaching Staff felt comfortable enough at this point in the game to insert their reserve players at all positions. They stepped up and continued to play solid defense while their offense managed to conduct several drives but did not put up any scores in the quarter. On the other hand, Roosevelt terribly faltered in the period due to costly fumbles. miscues, and major penalties. However, they did put up a score at the (2:11) minute mark left in the game when #8/WR/SR/Angel Ochoa broke off a brisk 22 yd. run over right tackle and sped into the end zone untouched. On the PAT, although it was terrible snap from center, the Riders‘ 2 point conversion was good when#17/PK/JR/Christopher Bernal picked up the ball off the ground, passed it in near desperation, and found #31/FB/JR/Adrian Soria all alone in the end zone. There was no further scoring.
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FINAL SCORE: Garfield 35 Roosevelt 15
Other Teams In The Playoffs:
Division 2-Wilson: Next up for the #2 seed will be a Northern League rematch with #15 seed Marshall on 11/2 at Wilson HS. Kick-off is set for 7 pm.
Division 2-Torres: Next up for the #8 seed will be #9 seed Chavez (San Fernando Valley) on 11/2 at Torres HS. Kick-off is set for 7 pm
