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Los Angeles Roosevelt 34, Alhambra 20






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Mariscal stars in Roosevelt victory



Roosevelt High School’s Jonathan Mariscal (7) and Enrique Barragan wrap up Alhambra’s Mitchell Crockom on a kickoff return. Roosevelt defeated the Moors, 34-20. (Photo by Juan Ruvalcaba/marinmedia.org)


By RON GUILD, Sports Editor

Story Published: Sep 9, 2009 at 3:45 PM PDT

When the subject is shut-down corners, Roosevelt High School's Jonathan Mariscal has to be in the discussion.

The Rough Rider cornerback was the star of the show last Friday when he squared off with Alhambra and its brilliant wide receiver Mitchell Crockom.

The priority for the Rider secondary was simple: Prevent Crockom from going wild.

Consider it mission accomplished.

To say the heavily-recruited Moor (UNLV and New Mexico State are among those after the 6-foot-2, 197-pounder) was shut down would be an understatement.

Mariscal, who was handed the task of one-on-one coverage of the star, completely shut out Crockom, who had no receptions or any carries from scrimmage in Roosevelt’s 34-20 nonleague victory.

“He was clearly our player of the game,” Rough Rider coach Javier Cid said of Mariscal. “Not only did he hold Mitchell Crockom to no catches, but had an interception return for 23 yards and ran a kickoff back 90 yards for a touchdown.”

The kickoff return was critical because Alhambra had just closed the gap to 27-14 in the fourth period on a 44-yard pass from Darrian Cazarin to Joseph Becerra. Mariscal’s return of the ensuing kickoff dashed any hopes the Moors would get any closer.

The Riders, who play at Wilson Friday, got what could be termed a complete-game effort.

The offense ran and passed the ball equally well.

Brandon Sifuentes, in his initial starting assignment at quarterback, was 9-of-11 for 104 yards and a touchdown and added 47 yards and two TDs (18, 14 yards) on five carries. His scoring pass was a 40-yarder to Brian Torres.

The Riders had 219 yards on the ground, led by Jesse Lira with 10 carries for 85 yards and a score and Elgin Rosales 11 for 82.

Defensively, Steven German had seven tackles and Jeff Simon had a sack. The secondary picked off two passes.

Alhambra, which is at La Canada Friday, got most of its offense through the air. Cazarin was 17-of-31 for 226 yards and two TDs. James Martin (five catches for 101 yards) hauled in a 53-yarder in the first quarter and Becerra (five for 92) had the 44-yarder in the fourth. Cazarin’s one-yard run closed the scoring.

“To beat a good Alhambra team with their skill players was impressive,” Cid said. “Alhambra had two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and that was against our second group.

“I thought our quarterback played well. We didn’t throw a lot, but when we did, he completed them. Offensively, we had four drives in the first quarter and scored on three of them.”

Next up is Wilson, which is opening its season.

This is a rivalry game, according to Cid.

“It’s been that way since I played at Roosevelt,” he said. “Everybody knows everybody else. I grew up with it being a rivalry and so did (Wilson) coach (Eddie) Martinez.”

Roosevelt has won the last three meetings, all by six points or less.