(East L.A.-Boyle Heights, CA)—The Roosevelt Rough Riders (Eastern League) hosted the Franklin Panthers, member of the Northern League and a Division II school, on this 2018 Labor Day Weekend Thursday, 8/30, in a CIF/L.A. City Section non-conference match-up. As they say, on paper both squads appeared to be equal, with each coming into the game with unblemished (2-0) records. Going into the contest in terms of the Maxpreps.com rankings, Franklin earned a 10,051 ranking in the National and a 653 in the State. The Panthers posted wins over Legacy (44-13) and University (49-13). The Riders on the other hand, were ranked in the National poll at 9,517 and 625 in the State’s poll. The Riders came into this game with consecutive victories over Gardena (32-14) away, and North Hollywood, (35-0), at home.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: The Riders will NOT be traveling to Inglewood HS for this Friday’s game. Instead, it will be played at Roosevelt due to an issue with Inglewood’s stadium. Kick-off is set for 7 pm. THERE WILL BE NO JV GAME.
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MORE FROM THE EDITOR: This post contains the full game “Play-By-Play” call, the Game Summary, and a Photo Gallery. At this time, we’d like to ask all of our fans and followers to “Like & Share” our “Game of the Week” with all of your families, friends, work colleagues, classmates, and neighbors. In return, and as a small token of our appreciation, we’d like to direct you to our website’s East L.A. Sports Scene/SportsFan Experience (SFX) Sign-Up Tab (above) and register for our current FREE ticket giveaway promotion. In September, we will be offering tickets to the Dodgers vs. Padres (Fan Appreciation Day), Rams vs. Chargers, and L.A. Kings vs. Coyotes. By signing up, you will be placed in our active pool of registrants making you eligible to become a recipient of our SportsFan Experience Free Tickets prize.
Game Summary:
1st Qtr—The Rough Riders broke first and very fast from the gate and were up (7-0) at the (10:30) mark on a superlative toss-and-“blast right” out of their Double Wing-T formation as #6 RB/JR/Frankie Cruz followed his blockers upfield for 10 yards, then broke free into the deep secondary and outraced his pursuers from the 50 yard line, going into the end zone for an 88 yd. rushing TD. However, he would be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for doing a front-forward flip into the end-zone. Cruz then scored his 2nd TD on a beautifully executed inside-reverse from 40 yds. out at the (5:43) mark. During the quarter, the Riders and Panthers would exchange a total of 3 more TDs, and at the end of the period, the score was (21-14), Rough Riders.
2nd Qtr—Franklin slowly, but surely kept its composure after being rocked on their defense by the Roosevelt’s unique rushing schemes afforded by their offense. Then gradually, a very cool and calm #11/QB/JR/Alfred Bobadilla began to find his WRs in #2 Chris Daniels, #7 Vincent Escobar and #28 Edgar Escobar on a consistent basis to take the lead at (28-21). The Panthers went into the locker room leading by nine at halftime. Of Significance….The Riders inability to secure the ball on designated running plays resulted in costly fumbles as they were attempting to gain momentum during critical stages of drives, especially as the clock ran down to end the 1st half.
HALFTIME SCORE: Franklin 36, Roosevelt 27.
3rd Qtr.—The Riders received the ball to start the period but ran into the same trouble they were in just before the end of the 1st half— fumble-itis. Just as the Riders were starting a drive with big play yardage gains, #44/SR/Santos Rivera, had the ball punched out of his grasp by a tackler and the Panthers came up with it in great field position at the 50 yard line. Franklin put up a score late in the period when Bobadilla stayed on the ground and handed the ball off to his running back, #34/Alex Gaspar for a 3 yard TD plunge. This made the score (43-27), Franklin. And subsequently, with a much-needed TD to stay close, the Riders had a 55 yard “Big Play” score by Frankie Cruz called back due to a holding call upfield on his run. Other than this negated play, the Riders could not cross the goal line in the period.
4th Qtr—In this quarter, the Riders continued to be plagued by ever-present penalties. However, they did manage to maintain a drive long enough to score their final TD of the game, when power-wingback, Santos Rivera ran it in from 20 yards out. The Panthers put up their final score at the (1:39) mark when their RB/#24/Oscar Gonzalez took it in from 6 yards out. Of Significance…In a small, but duly noted gesture of respect and sportsmanship, Head Coach Narciso Diaz elected not to attempt the PAT. Instead, QB Bobadilla, ended the play by taking a knee.
FINAL SCORE: Franklin 49, Roosevelt 33. The Panthers now move to (3-0), while the Rough Riders go to (2-1). Game Attendance: 1,500
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Roosevelt Game Stat-Line: (Offense) Frankie Cruz/7 carries-213 yds./Ave. 30.4 yds./2 TDs; #44/SR/Santos Rivera/15 carries-198 yds./Ave. 13.2 yds/1 TD. (Defense) #4/SR/Matt Tellez/12 tckls (10 solo-2 assts; #23/JR/Alfredo Sepulveda/12 tckls (9 solo-3 assts); #44/SR/Santos Rivera/10 tckls (8 solo-2 assts); #9/JR/Josue Lopez/9 tckls (7 solo-2 assts). Franklin Game Stat-Line: #11/QB/JR/Alfred Bobadilla/18-27/312 yds/.667 Completion %/4 TDs/83 yds. longest/145.4 QB Rating/71 yds. rushing/1 TD.
Photo Gallery: Bob Bernal, Jr./East Side Media
IN OTHER SCORES:
Garfield 29 Salesian 6
Wilson 61 Manual Arts 26
Torres 39 Belmont 0
Mendez 32 Maywood (CES) 18
