Garfield ..35...Bell....0





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L.A Jordan High ..James Boyd makes an appearance @ Garfield vs Bell game




Garfield has no trouble with Bell

By RON GUILD, Sports Editor 09.OCT.08

As much as the power programs on the preleague portion of the schedule meant, the more meaningful games are the ones ahead for the Garfield High School football team.

A steady diet of Birmingham, St. Paul, Wilson and San Pedro contributed to an uneven start and 1-3 record for the Bulldogs, who were at least battle tested from the experience.

While not every team in the Eastern League rises to the level of their early-season opponents, the Bulldogs need to treat them as if they were. Based on opening night, they are taking the second half of the regular season seriously.

They got it together last Friday in their Eastern League opener and rolled to a 35-0 victory over previously undefeated Bell.

Dominating in every aspect, Garfield rolled to a 21-0 halftime lead and never looked back.

The Bulldogs host South East (1-4, 0-1), a 28-23 loser to Huntington Park last week, at 7 p.m. Friday.

“The kids came out to play,” Garfield coach Lorenzo Hernandez said. “They’re playing at a faster level. League has started and that’s where playoff berths are won, and the kids realize it.”

Patrick Vargas (5-for-9 for 91 yards) threw touchdown passes to Bobby Vargas and Dominic Lam, while Sergio Macedo (18 carries for 109 yards) and Franky Diaz (nine for 33) ran for touchdowns to key the offense.

Special teams produced the other touchdown when Wences Rivas returned a blocked punt 18 yards in the first half.

The defense completely shut down the Eagles, who fell to 3-1. Other than Julian Leon rushing for 75 yards on 19 carries and Antonio Williams adding 44 on 10, Bell did little when it had the ball.

Some of Bell’s problems could be attributed to the loss of its starting quarterback to injury. Once he went out, the Eagles pretty much had to shelve the passing game.

“I think we’re going to have a better contest with South East,” Hernandez said.

The Jaguars feature the league’s top tailback in Senen Carson, who rushed for 189 yards and two touchdowns against Huntington Park. Their passing combination of quarterback Jonathan Reyes and wide receiver Fernando Magana has also been effective. Reyes was 17 of 23 for 239 yards, with Magana catching 11 for 182 yards last week.

“Carson is always a threat and Magana is really good,” Hernandez said. “I really like their rover, Danny Cu.”

Hernandez feels he’ll have a better handle on how the league teams stack up after Friday. The matchups include Jordan at Huntington Park and Bell at Roosevelt.

“After this week, we’ll have a sign of where everybody is at,” he said.