Rosselli, Alemany Rally to Defeat St. Francis

Unfazed by Alemany High’s slow start in a Del Rey League game at home Friday night, Joey Rosselli threw four second-half touchdown passes to lift the Indians over St. Francis, 32-17.

Rosselli, a left-handed senior, found Richard Dice on touchdown passes of 33, 45 and 33 yards and Brian Brison on one of 44 yards to erase a 17-7 halftime deficit.

“I knew we would score,” said Rosselli, who entered the week with a Valley-area high 1,584 yards passing. He completed 18 of 26 for 301 yards. “The line gave me that split second I needed to get the ball off. I got whacked afterward but, hey.”

Alemany (5-4 overall, 2-1 in league play) kept alive its hopes for a second-place finish. St. Francis dropped to 1-8, 0-3.

Dice, a sophomore, made adjustments and was able to get behind the Golden Knights’ secondary on each scoring pass.

“Their defense was the opposite of what we were practicing this week,” Dice said. “Their corners would go back and stop and I would go right by them.”

Initially, it appeared as if St. Francis was poised to cruise right by the stunned Indians.

Pete Morales charged in from the two on fourth down with eight seconds to play in the first half. Kevin Hurley added the extra point to give the Knights a surprising 17-7 advantage.

The scoring drive was kept alive when John Willis connected with Mike Torres on a 38-yard pass to the Alemany 18. On the following play, Torres caught a 10-yard pass to put St. Francis in scoring range.

Morales, a 6-foot, 205-pound senior, gained 100 yards in 18 carries before intermission.