The Rosemead Panthers will face off against the El Monte Lions at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Rosemead's offense hasn't had much luck over their past four contests, but Friday's matchup will give them a chance to turn things around.
Rosemead's last matchup with Gabrielino could've gone either way, but unfortunately the same can't be said for the pair's game last Friday. The Panthers were dealt a 48-13 loss at the hands of the Eagles. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since October 8, 2021, but that streak is no more.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask El Monte). They simply couldn't be stopped on Friday as they easily beat Marshall 72-6. The win continues a trend for the Lions in their matchups with the Eagles: they've now won five in a row.
El Monte's win came from a few key players Rosemead will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Aaron Rivera, who rushed for 78 yards and four TDs on only seven carries. Those four rushing touchdowns gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Alex Aleman, who threw for 191 yards and three touchdowns.
Special teams played a big role in the game for El Monte, adding 22 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Anthony Ramirez, who ran a punt back for a touchdown. Another bright spot was a kickoff return touchdown from Visi Aseh.
One reason for the win was El Monte's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for five sacks. In that department, Gilbert Rosales was the leader with two. He has been hot, having also posted six or more total tackles the last five times he's played.
Rosemead now has a losing record of 2-3. As for El Monte, their victory bumped their record up to 4-2.
Rosemead was dealt a bruising 43-15 defeat at the hands of El Monte in their previous matchup back in October of 2024. Will the Panthers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
