After losing to Roosevelt for the first time in more than five years last season, the Jordan Bulldogs were looking for redemption when they traveled across town Friday night to take on the Rough Riders.
Roosevelt, on the other hand, was trying to improve to 5-1 behind their punishing rush attack on Teacher Appreciation Night.
Roosevelt High teachers stand with players as they await to enter the stadium on Teacher Appreciation Night.
Lineman Oscar Fuentes enters with Ms. Mellisa Guangorena.
Ms. Letty Rodriguez shows her support for running back Elgin Rosales as the two are announced.
The Roosevelt dancers and band wait to enter the playing field prior to the game.
The Jordan Bulldog skill players warm up while coach Elijah Asante looks on.
Star athlete Deshawn Beck gets his arm loose during Jordan's warm ups.
The Roosevelt High School bands plays the national anthem while the United States and California flags are presented.
Defensive coordinator Frank Lewis goes over some final adjustments with the Jordan defensive backs before the start of the game.
Roosevelt's Jesse Lira sprints around right end for seven of his 104 rushing yards on the night. He scored his first touchdown of the night three plays later.
Jordan lined up in a number of offensive formations, including this unconventional one without a quarterback.
Roosevelt first down.
The Rough Riders lead 7-0 as the second quarter begins.
A holding call and a single piece of yellow cloth negates a 58-yard Deshawn Beck touchdown run. Jonathan Mariscal intercepted Beck on the next play and returned the ball to the Jordan 7-yard line.
Two plays after Mariscal's interception, Lira dances into the endzone for his second touchdown giving the Rough Riders a 14-0 lead.
Offensive lineman Fuentes (#64), Chris Moreno (#55), and Ricardo Alfaro (#74) take a breather after Lira's touchdown.
Beck is tackled by Enrique Barragan and an unidentified Roosevelt defender after a double reverse pass resulted in a first down.
Jordan lines up at the goal line where Jackyle Cooper would rush it in to cut into Roosevelt's lead. The extra point was blocked, however, making it 14-6.
With less than 30 seconds remaining in the half, Devante Smith hauls in a 45-yard tochdown pass from Beck to trim the lead to 14-12. The Bulldogs again fail on the conversion attempt leaving them with a two-point deficit.
Roosevelt defensive coordinator Ricardo Zepeda is in the face of Barragan after a blown coverage left Smith open on the touchdown catch.
Sitting in a Roosevelt High classroom, Beck and teammates look on as coaches give instruction during halftime.
Asante goes over Jordan's individual team mottos: Special Teams - "We stay ready," Defense - "We'll be there," Offense - "Count on us."
Roosevelt bursts through the banner and back on to the field for the second half.
Late in the third quarter, lineman Ramon Bazzara (#51) and teammates look on as offensive coordinator Phillip Moreno implores his team to get a push up front.
As was the case for the majority of the second half, the Jordan defense swarmed around Lira bottling him up in the backfield.
When they weren't gang tackling Lira, the Jordan defense was upending Manny Ayon (#2).
Late in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs got the ball back trailing 14-12 with hopes to drive down the field for the game-winning score.
Asante put the ball in the hands of his star, Beck, who led the Jordan down to the 21-yard line with just over a minute remaining.
Back-to-back sacks left a decisive 4th-and-20. And though receiver Robert McCovery made a valiant effort cutting in front of a defender on an underthrown pass, the ball was knocked loose and Asante was left to console his players as they came to the sideline.
Final: Roosevelt 14 - Jordan 12
Beck's jersey shows the wear and, literal, tear of four quarters as he and his teammates listens to the Asante's post-game speech.
Shotgun Spratling
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