Football: L.A. Jordan hammers Roosevelt
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If history is any indication, the Eastern League champion may have just been crowned.
Los Angeles Jordan ran away with a 29-3 victory over visiting Roosevelt on Friday afternoon in a matchup whose winner has gone on to at least a share of the league title in each of the last three seasons.
The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-1) dominated from start to finish, taking a 15-3 halftime lead and stifling a Rough Riders offense that was missing top running backs Elgin Rosales (concussion) and Jesse Lira (knee). Roosevelt (5-2, 2-1) committed two first-half turnovers and was successful on only two of six fourth-down attempts.
‘It wouldn’t have made a difference,’ Rough Riders Coach Javier Cid said of having Rosales and Lira. ‘Those guys weren’t the problem. Whoever is in there has to do the job. We didn’t block well and we made some mistakes.’
Roosevelt quarterback Andony Flores’ first pass was intercepted and returned 60 yards for a touchdown by defensive end Leroy Kelsey. Jordan defensive end Carlos Diaz also recovered a fumble inside the Bulldogs’ 10-yard line to thwart a drive.
‘They knew Roosevelt’s playbook as if it were their own,’ Bulldogs Coach Sheron Butler said of his team’s defensive players.
Jordan unveiled a multi-dimensional attack on offense, with quarterback Justin Lewis completing seven of 14 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns with an interception and running back Abdul Castaneda gaining 134 yards and a touchdown in 13 carries.
‘That’s the new Jordan,’ Butler said of his team’s diversified offense. ‘We want to keep teams off balance.’
The victory snapped a two-year drought for Jordan against Roosevelt. ‘The kids had this one circled,’ Butler said.
--Ben Bolch