Behind a tough defense and a potent running attack, the Roosevelt High School football team is off to an impressive 3-0 start.

The Rough Riders, who play Whittier Friday night at home in an intersectional game, have recorded victories against Contreras (28-7), Wilson (27-13) and Alhambra (34-20).

“Our defense definitely has done a good job holding our opponents at bay, and unlike past years, we’ve been able to run the ball and become a good running team,” Roosevelt Coach Javier Cid says. “But I have to give a lot of credit to the defense.”

He noted that most of the points that the Rough Riders have allowed were scored late in the games when Roosevelt was playing mostly reserve players.

“Alhambra scored twice in the fourth quarter and Wilson scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter and our special teams gave up the only score we allowed against Contreras,” he said.

Jonathan Mariscal has been one of the leaders on defense. The junior cornerback intercepted two passes last Friday at Contreras, returning the first one a record-tying 99 yards for a touchdown. He returned his second pick 51 yards to end the first half.

Roosevelt High School’s (from left) Angel Barrera, Steven German, Ronny Lazo, Jesse Lira, Ramon Barraza and Zach Rivera have helped lead the Rough Riders to an impressive 3-0 start. (EGP photo by Mario Villegas)

He also had an interception against Alhambra and when he’s not picking off quarterbacks, he’s shutting down their top receivers. Mariscal also has a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

“He’s been a big part of our defense,” Cid says. “He’s very fast and athletic and has a good nose for the ball.”

Steven German has done a stellar job at middle linebacker where the senior has stepped in to replace Rafael Ortega, the Rough Riders’ All-City standout in 2008.

“Because of Ortega he was a reserve last year, but he has really stepped up and done a pretty good job,” Cid says.

Defensive end Ronny Lazo and defensive tackle Zach Rivera, a four-year varsity player who also starts at center, lead the Rough Riders up front.

“Rivera comes from a family of Rough Riders, so he has grown up as a Rough Rider and this is his year,” Cid says, noting that Rivera’s brothers, Xavier and Robert, and his father, Robert, and uncle, Felix, all played football at the school.

Roosevelt’s offense is led by Jesse Lira, a junior running back who has rushed for 356 yards and is averaging 8.6 yards per carry. He has 407 total yards and five touchdowns. Lira ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns against Wilson.

The versatile skills of fullback Elgin Rosales have been key. The senior averaging 100 yards rushing per game.

“Lira has been our main weapon and in Rosales we have a fullback that can run, catch and block,” Cid says. “Usually, we’ve had guys that can run, but can’t catch. Rosales can catch and block very effectively and Lira is doing a great job. We haven’t had a guy go over 1,000 yards in four years because we’ve used a lot of different backs over the years.”

The offensive line is led by senior tackles Ramon Barraza, a three-year starter and team captain, and Angel Barrera, who’s also a team captain.

“Barraza’s 6-2, 250 and really strong,” Cid says. “He plays tackle but he pulls for us. He can run block and pass block very effectively. He’s a team leader and captain. Put it this way, he’s everything you want in a varsity kid and the kind of player you want leading your team.

Barrera is also very athletic and is doing a really good job for us at right tackle. He’s very good.”

Lira scored on touchdown runs of nine and four yards at Contreras last Friday, finishing the game with 85 yards on 11 carries. Rosales had a team-high 108 yards on 11 attempts.

Wide receiver Manny Ayon caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brandon Sifuentes that gave Roosevelt a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. Ayon had four receptions for 62 yards and Sifuentes completed 10 of 15 passes for 138 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Miguel Garcia recorded five tackles.

Whittier (1-1), Roosevelt’s opponent on Friday, is coming off a 54-21 defeat to Warren last Friday. The Cardinals opened the season with a 35-13 victory over Chino.

Roosevelt and Whittier also met last season with the Rough Riders coming away with a tough 16-14 victory.

Source: EGPNews.com