Prep Football Round-Up, Week #11-11.7.14 / Playoffs Next

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Here we are, just 48 hours away from the start of the 2nd season and the“Playoffs”  for 7 of our 8 high school teams. Congrats to all!! Check out our Week #11 Round-Up and then Share” and“Like” it with as many friends as possible. We have been very diligent in our coverage and we truly hope that you’ve enjoyed reading about all of our teams for this inaugural season. So glad we could so easily connect with all of you via the internet and East L.A. Sports Scene.Com. Please continue to visit us and view our works!  VIEWER ALERT!  Our Rivalry Game Day #3 Fan Poll, UCLA vs. USC  is active. Plenty of  time to cast your vote before the game on Nov. 22nd at the Rose Bowl!

 ATTENTION PLAYERS & PARENTS! Remember the grammar school phrase of  the 3 Rs – Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic. Well, let’s just add one more R  word on to it and we have Recruiting. You are in a good position to connect those who may not know of the valuable Elite Football Network (EFN) recruiting tool that is available for FREE. There is still a window of opportunity left for your son to experience what the recruiting process is all about. But you have to take action now. My message is simple. Time is running out as the season has ended for most players. Recruitment is still possible to use in your conversations if you take advantage of our pending feature on this topic for Seniors and/or varsity players who want to start their process NOW, rather than later. If you are interested in more info, then please read on. As the old saying goes,“You Have Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain!!” This is an“Urgent” reminder. You only need to take a few minutes to immediately enroll On-line through the EliteSportsNetwork.Com website and register for their FREE  service. It may be one of the most important  “links”  in furthering your playing career as a”scholarship recipient” to a college or university after you graduate. Your video highlight reel should already be completed at this point of the season. To review our In-Studio interview with the National Director of Recruiting, Elite Football Network, (EFN), Ryan Wright, we recommend that you go to our website posting for viewing. Rico Cabrera, Sr./ELASS.COM

CREDITS:  sixtysixdesignstudio for use of South Gate & Roosevelt helmet images; AR for “East L.A. Classic” Photo Gallery.

        FEATURED GAME OF THE WEEK- “THE 80th EAST L.A. CLASSIC”

     Garfield “Bulldogs”  42  Roosevelt “Rough Riders”  7     Recap: Make no  mistake about it, this rivalry game was settled early in the 1st quarter when the Bulldogs’ offensive machine picked apart the Riders secondary with the “Bomb” and then went after its “D” line and linebackers with a powerful and determined ground game. Speed, size, agility, open-field maneuvering, and flat out running and passing skills of QB Stevie Williams, the running back duo of Albert Molina and Frankli Robles. Add on the wide receiving skills of  Deion Washington, and there is your winning formula for the victory. As Coach Lorenzo Hernandez reminded the media in his pre-game/press conference prediction that the game would come down to ball conrol, a reduction in team turn-overs, the avoidance of penalties, and “Big Plays” made at critical moments of the game… his vision was prophetic and precise. By halftime the score read Garfield 33, Roosevelt 0, and the Bulldogs game plan had worked to perfection. In the 2nd half, Coach Hernandez and his staff justly rewarded the 2nd units and deep reserve players the fantastic experience to play in the “East L.A. Classic”  as a reward for their desire, hard work, and willingness to be a part of this outstanding team. For Coach Javier Cid and his“Rough Riders”  it was another long and difficult Friday Night under the lights due in large part to the shoulder injury of QB Sammy Hernandez in the 2nd quarter. Hernandez would never return to the game. Roosevelt’s offense had one shining moment in the 3rd period when back-up QB, Francsico Gallegos broke to the line of scrimmage, scooted around his right end after a good block, and then sprinted down the sideline untouched for a 60 yard TD. That was the Riders only score of the game. The Bulldogs, conservatively, put up just 9 more points to register the final score of 42-7. Selected by EastLA SportsScene.Com as Players of The Game were: MVP, 80th East L.A. Classic/SR/QB/Stevie Williams/11-17 passing/213 yds/5 car-97yds/2 passing TDs/1 rushing TD; Offensive – RB/SR/Albert Molina/17 car-83 yds; SR/WR/Cleo Session, Jr./5 recps-85yds/1 TD; LB-TE/SR/Chris Alexander/1 TD recp/1 fumble recovery for 46 yd TD. Defensive – LB/JR/Joe Silva/11 tckls/4 solo-7 assts.

Now it’s on to the playoffs for both schools, with Garfield earning the Division I #2 seed, and Roosevelt, the #15. Next: #2 Garfield vs #15 El Camino Real @ Garfield and Roosevelt vs San Pedro @ San Pedro, both games are on Friday, 11/14/14, at 7 pm     RC, Sr./ELASS.Com 

            South Gate “Rams”  35   South East “Jaguars”  7                                          Recap: The Rams took the field with the mind-set of “win at all costs,” and that’s exactly what they did. For this contest, dubbed the“Azalea Bowl,” all systems were “Go” for Coach Casagran, and his players responded to his game plan overwhelmingly with precision, confidence, and dominance of their old rival, the Bell “Eagles.”  A loss would have plunged the Rams into a deeper seed for the playoffs and possibly a m,ore difficult road to travel in the playoffs. Here are Coach  Jose Casagran’s comments on last week’s final Eastern League game vs South East and the upcoming playoff run the Rams are eagerly awaiting to start. “It was a great win this week versus a quality opponent. There was a lot at stake for us. With a win, several teams would have finished second or tied in Eastern League play. But if we lost, we could have dropped all the way down to 4th place in the standings and an unfavorable seeding. In addition, we had not beaten South East high school for nine years so it meant a lot to the community for us to come out with a good and convincing victory. In looking back on the season, we were most disappointed to have forfeited three games. In spite of it, we never took our eye off the prize. We finished (9-1) on the playing field which was quite an accomplishment for this group of young men and coaches. Now the second season begins and hopefully we can make a solid run to the Division-II Championship. Good luck to all the Eastern League teams this coming week!!” Selected by EastLASportsScene.Com as the Players of the Game were: Offensive – QB/Andrew Toro/7 compl-15 yds/146 yds/1 TD; RB/Lavell Thompson/15 car-212 yds/1 TD; WR-CB/Antonio Washington/5 recps-87 yds/2 TDs/6 rushes-77 yds/1 TD; Defensive – OLB/Oscar Barba/8 tckls/6 solo-2 assts/1 INT; and DT/Cesar Bobadilla/2 sacks.. Next: Franklin @ South Gate, 11/14/14, 7 pm, in 1st round, Div. II Playoffs    JC/SGHS-RC, Sr./ELASS.COM

             Cathedral “Phantoms”  71    St Paul “Swordsmen” 28                                    Recap: Sophomore QB sensation and dominant passing force, Andrew Tovar, put on quite a spectacular finale against Angelus League opponent, the St. Paul “Swordsmen” to end the regular season on a huge winning note. Momentum has been earned and collected by the “Phantoms” as they now await the playoffs to begin this Friday at Home when they take on the Pasadena Muir “Mustangs” in a rematch of their opening season non-conference game,  played in early September and won by Cathedral by a score of 12-7. Head Coach Kevin Pearson had this to say about their resounding final regular season win. “We should get a third-place team. Our Sophomore QB, Andrew Tovar (18-23/328 yds/6 TDs) had another great game, passing for over 300 yards and 5 TDs by halftime. He finished the regular season with just under 3,000 yards and 39 touchdowns, truly remarkable numbers for such a young player. For the game, we had 9 different players score as we spread our offense all over the field. On defense, LB-RB/Moli Tai (10 tackles/6 solo-4 assts) had another great game for us.” Selected by EastLASportsScene.Com for player mentions include: RB/Jerry Martin with 126 total yds. (53 rushing-73 receiving) and Renard Bell who finished with 142 total yards (46 receiving-96 yd. Kick-off return).  Next: Muir (Pasadena) @ Cathedral – 1st round CIF/SS Playoff game, 11/14/14 @ 7:30 pm. Congrats to the Phantoms on another excellent season and Good Luck in the Playoffs!!  KP/CHS-RC, Sr./ELASS.COM

           Lincoln  “Tigers”  51         Sotomayor  “Wolves”  0                                       Recap: In summing up the final Northern League game against Sotomayor, the extra fan element of “Homecoming”  was certainly a big factor in the way that the “Tigers” came roaring out on to the field and then proceeded to dominate their opponent from the opening kick-off to the final horn. Coach Carrillo’s veteran players really stepped up their game and offensively they racked up 51 points in the victory. This wide margin of victory also allowed the Coaching staff to insert and play the 2nd unit plus many deserving reserves as well. Head Coach, Alberto “Woody” Carrillo commented on the post-season by stating, “we received the 8th seed which gives us a Home game against Granada Hills. I feel our strength of schedule in the pre-season was the Selection Committee’s main factor in seeding us there. It was always our goal during the season to get Home field advantage for the 1st round. Now that we have it, we’ll have to play a great game in front of our highly supportive student-body, our faculty, our families, our alumni, and all loyal Lincoln Tigers’ fans.” In looking back on this seson, it must be noted that with the return of All-Northern League wide reciever, team leader, and Senior, Brandon Oroxon, the Tigers were able to turn it all around and make it to the playoffs. We wish the Lincoln Tigers the best of luck in the playoffs!! Selected by EastLASportsScene.Com as Players of the Game were: Offensive – Albert Buenrostro/QB/JR/9-11 compl/122 yds/3 TDs; Bryan Martinez/PK/JR/7-7 PATs; Brayan Figueroa/RB/JR/15 car-99 yds./1 TD; Randy Orzoco/RB/SO/10 car-82 yds./2 TDs; Brandon Oroxon/WR/SR/6 recps-87 yds./2 TDs; Nico Mendez/SR/3 car-57 yds./1 TD.   Next: Division III-1st round playoff game vs. Granada Hills @ Lincoln, 11/14/14, 7 pm.   AC/LHS-RC, Sr./ELASS.COM

            St. Francis  “Golden Knights”  46        Salesian “Mustangs”  15           Recap: The “Golden Knights” came out for their final Angelus League game against the visiting “Mustangs”with their steeled blades sharpened to razor-cutting efficiency. Evidenced by their explosive offensive schemes and patterns, they managed to light up the scoreboard at will. The halftime score read St. Francis 29, Salesian 0. After the Golden Knights scored twice in the 3rd quarter and added a field goal in the last period, it was all academic as the Mustangs managed to score just twice, the first on a Nicholas Perez/JR/CB, 25 yd. defensive TD in the 3rd quarter, and the second, coming on QB/Damion Wright’s 32 yd. scoring toss to Nick Pickett/WR-DB in the 4th quarter. Nonetheless, the Mustangs will slip into the playoffs on Friday as a #15 seed and travel to the #2 seed’s campus at La Mirada High, home of the “Matadores.” Leading the way into the playoffs for the Mustangs will be: RB-LB/Kyahva Tezino averaging 89 rushing yds. and 10 tackles per game; Damion Wright/QB/SR, who passed for an average of 102 yds. per game; and RB-DB/SO/Deommodore Lenoir who averaged 4.7 points per game. Good Luck to Coach Angelo Jackson and the “Mustangs”  and Congrats on making it in to the 2014 Playoffs!!  Next: CIF/SS 1st round Playoff game versus #2 seeded La Mirada @ La Mirada, 11/14/14, 7:30 pm  RC, Sr./ELASS.COM

         Marshall “Barristers” 50    Torres Toros” 25                                              Recap: Although the final score was doubled by the “Barristers,” you need to read the fine print of the box score to understsnd the story fo this game. Surprisingly, the “Toros” dominated one of the critical areas in the game with a 28 minute time of possession to their opponents 19. They ran 67 plays to Marshall’s 55,  but coughed up the football 3 times on fumbles, allowed 3 sacks and 4 tackles for losses. The Toros were successful in making a total of 18 first downs for the game,  obviously demonstrating that they were able to mount scoring drives, although not on par with the Barristers. For our final team stat update on the “Toros” we present you with the numbers as provided by Maxpreps.com: Rushing Yards Per Game/183.9; Passing Yards Per Game/117.2; Total Yards Per Game/249.4; Tackles Per Game/55.8; Sacks Per Game/1.6; and Points Per Game/25.7. The 10th consecutive defeat marks the end of a long, and injury-plagued season for the “Toros” and their Head Coach, Peter Cuevas, who finishes his 4th season in that position. Coach Cuevas and his staff will now have to wait for the arrival of Spring practice in March to see what the new 2015 season will offer in terms of new players trying out for the team, expectant and valued JV players maturing and moving up to the next level of play, as well as the possibility of new players joining the team through the transfer process. Don’t count the Toros and Coach Cuevas out of anything next season as they are a very resilient and proud team that represents their remarkable school, its rich tradition, and the highest level of competition and sportsmanship.   RC, Sr./ELASS.COM

         Wilson “Mighty Mules” – No game due to BYE week. Coach Eddie Martinez’s team has qualified for the Division 3 Playoffs as a #14 seed and will travel to the San Fernando Valley and the campus of  Monroe High to take on the #3 seeded “Vikings.”  The 1st round Playoff game is scheduled for Friday, 11/14/14 at 7 pm.