By Jose Arredondo | Photo by Aly Miranda
Roosevelt Rough Riders, with a 2-1 record went head to head with the Johnson Jaguars on Saturday night. With a clutch victory against a desperate MacArthur team last week, the Riders were rolling but at what cost?? The Rough Riders suffered a huge loss with Frank Barnes, Roosevelt’s number 1 running back and kick/punt returner, who suffered an ACL injury keeping him from plans for the remainder of the season.
When the game began it was already an exciting one– back and forth, with both teams playing as if it were playoffs. Johnson was first team to put points on the board off a 35-yard touchdown run. Roosevelt’s defense was frustrated but made adjustments as the game had proceeded.
“That first touchdown Johnson made was unacceptable but the defense knew what they did wrong and they made changes after that,” Coach Neal Lahue said.
Roosevelt answered back with a touchdown of their own, and another at the end of the first quarter ahead 14 to 7 at the end of the first quarter. Johnson was looking to equalize this game and they did early in the second quarter. Defensively both sides were working hard to keep the game tied at 14 to 14 at halftime. Receiver Carl Whitley lead Roosevelt with 166 yards receiving in the first half and Steven Marshall was moving the chains also on the ground with the running game.
“Everyone was blocking well and I just hold on and ran the ball,” Marshall said.
To start the second half Marshall got his second rushing touchdown and Roosevelt takes the lead. But the third quarter was all defense, and the game was 21 to 14 start of the fourth quarter. Roosevelt’s Traven Lee rushed for a 20-yard touchdown to give the Riders a commanding 27 to 14 lead. Just like any other game the game isn’t over until the final whistle was blown. Johnson scored quickly to keep it a one-possession game, and they did just that– the Jaguars got the ball back and they tied the game.
” The game was into overtime and Johnson had the ball, I knew we needed to get a stop and were not going to lose this game,” Kelvin Taylor said.
At the tart of overtime Johnson and Roosevelt were both fighting hard. Johnson moved the ball down the field, and Roosevelt’s defense forced Johnson to attempt a field goal. As the Johnson kicker attempted to kick the ball a Roosevelt defender blocked it, and got the stop Roosevelt desperately needed in overtime. Roosevelt moved the ball down the field and who else but Stephen Marshall ran in for the winning touchdown (Marshalls third for the night) as Roosevelt gets the victory.
“This is a great win for us,” senior Juan Godoy said. “Each game we play our team plays as it is our last game.”
The Velt Boys have proven they can adjust when they lose a big player and can win in close games. Playoffs is the goal and that’s where they are headed.
They can clinch this position in their pink out game against Churchill this Saturday at Comalander. For the crowd and the players, coaches band, dancers, cheerleaders to all wear pink will be a way to show their support for breast cancer research.
