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South Gate-Roosevelt tops Eastern League slate

Posted: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 1:47 pm
By Ron Guild, Sports Editor

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wavenewspapers.com

This was expected to be a race between South East and Garfield high schools, which it might still be.

But 5-0 South Gate and 4-1 Roosevelt, which face off at 7 p.m. Friday at South Gate in an Eastern League football game, have put themselves in the conversation with impressive showings to date.


South Gate, under first-year coach Jose Casagran, are suddenly a factor after being down for a number of years. Roosevelt missed the playoffs last season.

While there is excitement about a matchup of teams with a combined 9-1 record and both winners to open league, Roosevelt coach Javier Cid is trying to temper the hype.

“We’re trying to treat this as just another tough Eastern League game,” he said. “This league is tough because it’s very even and every game is tight.”

He understands why this matchup is drawing attention, though.
“South Gate has been down, now it’s on the rise,” he said. “It’s made our league that much tougher. You’ve got to play your best game to beat them.”

Senior quarterback Eduardo Flores leads a Rams team that is averaging 45 points a game and allowing 22.2.

They’ve scored no fewer than 34 in a game and have had as much as 57 (against Millikan). They’re coming off a 44-28 win over Huntington Park to start league.

Roosevelt opened league with a 16-6 win over Bell.

Offensively, the Riders have been potent as well, averaging 32.8 points per game.
Quarterback David Arriaga and running back Gilbert Herrera, one of the best all-purpose players in the league, lead the way. Arriaga had 502 yards of total offense two weeks ago in a 62-32 win over Cantwell Sacred Heart.

Against Bell, it was Herrera playing the bigger role by rushing 18 times for 146 yards and both TDs (44 and five yards). Arriaga contributed 65 yards through the air and 60 on the ground.
Defense and special teams made their impact.

Punter Mario Ramirez had a kick downed at the one-yard line, leading to an early safety for the Riders. Middle linebackers Christian Campos and Juan Garcia were outstanding all game and Hilberto Alvarado sealed the win with an interception at the goal line in the closing seconds.

In the other league games Friday, South East (4-1, 1-0) is at Garfield (0-4, 0-0) and Jordan (0-3, 0-1) is at Bell (3-2, 0-1)

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