By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
5 Days 2 Friday Home
The final stop of the regular season on the 5 Days 2 Friday Nike Road Tour takes place at East Los Angeles College when Roosevelt and Garfield compete for the Eastern League title in the East LA Classic.
The rivalry between the two East Los Angeles schools is one of the better match-ups each year in the L.A. City Section. The two teams have battled for over 70 years with Roosevelt leading the all-time series 39-26-7. The game annually draws nearly 20,000 fans, many of whom have friends and family aligned with both teams on the field.
Garfield is the defending Los Angeles City Section Invitational Tournament champion, knocking off University in the finals 28-23. The Bulldogs lost to Roosevelt in the East LA Classic, 23-15, but came back to beat the Rough Riders 31-13 in the first round of the playoffs.
This year, Roosevelt is on a roll, winning its last eight games after opening the season with a 41-0 loss to Torrey Pines. Eastern League play has seen some wild games for the Rough Riders, who have played three straight high-scoring affairs against South East (36-29), Jordan (33-21) and Huntington Park (39-29).
Jesse Diaz, an All-LA City Section pick last year, leads the Rough Riders at quarterback. After throwing for 2,461 yards last year, Diaz has had a similar senior season except for one category – interceptions. While he has thrown for 1,727 yards this year along with 18 touchdowns (the same number of TDs he threw as a junior), Diaz has thrown just one interception in 2008 compared to 11 as a junior.
“He’s a much better quarterback,” Roosevelt coach Javier Cid told the Los Angeles Times.
Manny Ayon has been the main target for Diaz, catching 32 passes for 542 yards and three scores. However Diaz has spread the ball around, completing passes to 12 different receivers – 10 of whom have scored at least one touchdown.
Cid also spreads the wealth when rushing the ball. Four different Rough Riders have carried the ball at least 40 times, led by Jonathan Alatriste with 62 carries for 347 yards.
Garfield is 5-4 on the season, but the Bulldogs knocked off defending LA City Section champion Birmingham 29-28 in the season opener and they won their first four league game before falling to Jordan last week 48-29.
The Bulldogs have a more balanced offensive attack with quarterback Patrick Vargas throwing for 1,193 yards and 12 touchdowns and Sergio Macedo leading the rushing attack with 760 yards and 12 scores.
Bulldog coach Lorenzo Hernandez was the Invitational All-City Coach of the Year last season and returning players Frankie Diaz and Roy Fonseca also earned All-City first team honors. Diaz has rushed for 326 yards on 76 carries while Fonseca has 41 tackles and two interceptions at defensive back. Macedo and defensive back Lanny Delgado were both second team picks. Delgado leads the team with three interceptions this year.
Unlike seasons past, the two teams won’t have the chance to meet again in the playoffs. Garfield has chosen to move up to the Championship Division this year while Roosevelt will compete in the Invitational Division.