Bell High School is apparently serious about joining the usual contenders for the Eastern League crown.

The likes of Jordan, Garfield and Roosevelt have ruled the top half of the standings in recent years and all three actually shared the title last season.

On the other hand, Bell was 4-6 overall, 1-5 in league and was a non-qualifier when it came to the City Section playoffs.

This year, the Eagles find themselves 5-0 and more importantly, 2-0 in league. A 13-7 victory over Garfield in their last outing gives them even more momentum heading into Friday’s 7 p.m. game against visiting South East (2-3, 1-0), a 35-13 winner over Huntington Park in its league opener.

“This is the best corps of receivers they’ve had and their quarterback (Adrian Lopez) is a very poised, confident kid,” Garfield coach Lorenzo Hernandez said of Bell.

Lopez has been giving Bell excellent play in the early going.

He was 7 of 15 for 106 yards, including a 16-yard scoring pass to Dale Estrada against Garfield.

David Franco returned an interception 50 yards for a score in the second period when the Eagles were getting all their points. Franco had two interceptions and was in on eight tackles, six of them solo.

Robert Soliz was also busy on defense with six solos and five assists.

Garfield (2-4, 0-2), which hosts Huntington Park (2-4, 0-2) Friday, scored in the fourth period on a nine-yard run by Jonathan Lopez (12 carries for 62 yards).

Julio Silva was the most productive Bulldog back with his 163 yards on 26 carries, which helped them rush for 240 yards.

But turnovers hurt Garfield. Leonardo Vaal, seeing his first action at quarterback, threw two interceptions and the Bulldogs also lost a fumble.

Vaal, in his first year of playing organized football, was 9 of 14 for 75 yards.

Hernandez plans to stick with his new signal caller.

“We were becoming too one-dimensional,” Hernandez said. “Hopefully, this change will be good.”

Linebacker Moses Saucedo was solid on defense for Garfield with seven solo tackles, four assists and two sacks. Jonathan Valles had four solos and five assists.

Although the rash of mistakes again proved costly, Hernandez is not down on his team.

“I feel good about this group because it hasn’t given up,” he said.

By WAVE STAFF Story Published: Oct 7, 2009 at 3:33 PM PDT

Adrian Lopez passed for three touchdowns to lift unbeaten Bell High School to a 33-14 victory over South Gate in an Eastern League opener.

The win improved the Eagles to 4-0 overall. They continue league play at Garfield (2-3, 0-1) Friday. Garfield dropped its league opener at Jordan, 7-0.

The junior quarterback completed 11 of 17 for 182 yards, including 38- and 24-yard scoring strikes to David Franco and a 14-yarder to Oscar Gonzalez.

Jose Barba, who carried eight times for 72 yards, capped the scoring for the Eagles with a 20-yard run.

Elmer Grajeda returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown and finished with five solo tackles and five assisted ones to lead the defense. Robert Soliz also had an interception and Ever Diaz had six solo tackles and two assists.

South Gate (2-2) received scoring runs from quarterback Emmanuel Leyva and running back Ernesto Torres. Leyva completed 15 of 29 passes for 178 yards.

Chris Bucknor (nine carries for 40 yards) and Jose Magana (five for 55) led the Rams ground attack.

South Gate hosts Belmont (2-2) in a nonleague game Friday.

Bell (3-0), a 35-0 winner over Eagle Rock last Friday, opens the Eastern League portion of its schedule Friday at South Gate (2-1). The Rams held off Lincoln, 21-14 in their last game.

Dale Estrada caught a pair of scoring passes, including a 49-yarder from Adrian Lopez, and Jose Barba ran for 62 yards and a TD to pace Bell. Brian Vannithone had a one-yard scoring run and Robert Soliz returned a fumble 13 yards for the Eagles’ other TDs.

Lopez, who was 12-of-16, had scoring passes of 32 yards to Oscar Gonzalez and nine yards to David Franco.

The other Eagle scores were on a one-yard run by Jose Barba (12 carries for 68 yards) and a 65-yard kickoff return by Franco.

Defensively, Martin Lara had six solo tackles, an assist and two sacks to lead the Eagle defense. Rick De La Rocha had three solos and Franco had an interception.

Bell is at Eagle Rock Friday.

When it comes to discussions of the Eastern League football race, defending league champion Jordan High School, defending City Invitational Division champ Garfield, Huntington Park, South East and Roosevelt draw most of the talk.

But only one team is still undefeated at this point: Bell.

The Eagles (2-0) may just have a say in this race after all.

Their 24-14 nonleague victory over Belmont last Friday featured a strong running attack.

Julian Leon carried 17 times for 106 yards and Antonio Williams scored touchdowns on runs of six and 18 yards to lead the way. Juan Lucero also ran for a score.

Francisco Rodriguez completed nine of 15 for 80 yards and Rafael Ochoa kicked a 31-yard field goal.

Defensively, David Franco had five tackles three assists.

The Eagles host Eagle Rock (2-1) at 7 p.m. Friday.

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Despite some fine offensive performances, South East (1-2) fell to Santee, 30-26 in nonleague action.

Senen Carson rushed for 123 yards and two TDs and Jonathan Reyes was 20 of 30 for 215 yards and two scores for the Jaguars. Reyes’ TD passes went to Jorge Montes and Ramon Altimirano. Fernando Magana was the leading receiver with six catches for 66 yards.

South East is at Franklin Friday.

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Hollywood’s Steven DeGuzman passed for a TD and ran for another in a 13-7 victory over South Gate (1-1). DeGuzman’s scoring pass went to Bryan Quinteros.

Jose Rivas carried 15 times for 71 yards and a TD for South Gate. Quarterback Irving Villasenor was 5 of 15 for 64 yards.

Defensively for the Rams, Steven Ibarra had five solo tackles and 14 assists and Josue Valdez had seven solos and three assists.

South Gate hosts Lincoln Friday.

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Huntington Park (1-1) rolled to a 41-7 victory over Verdugo Hills. The Spartans led, 20-0 at halftime and 26-0 through three quarters.

Ramon Ochoa and Edgar Cervantes of Bell made history Wednesday when the two seniors signed letters of intent to play football at Iowa, becoming the first Eagle players to sign with a Big Ten Conference school.

Ochoa, 5 feet 10, 180 pounds, was an All-City receiver as a junior. He was named All-City as a defensive back last season after playing quarterback, running back, defensive back, punter and return specialist. Cervantes, 6-3, 210, is a linebacker.

“Most of our players don’t go to big schools, so it makes me feel good that I’ll be playing in the Big Ten,” said Ochoa, who chose Iowa over Oklahoma. “A lot of people in the community have made me feel real good about the decision. I feel like a role model.”

Cervantes committed to the Hawkeyes in December, Ochoa after a trip to Iowa City late last month.

“At the beginning, I thought I was going to be there by myself–I never thought we would be at the same school together,” Cervantes said. “Now, it’s even better. We can be roommates and we have someone to talk to.”