By RON GUILD, Sports Editor

Story Published: Oct 14, 2009 at 12:34 PM PDT

The blueprint for success against Jordan High School has been well-established.

Taking the air out of the football, at least when it comes to fellow Eastern League schools, is the best way to slow down the Bulldogs.

Following the lead of neighborhood rival Garfield, Roosevelt did just that to record a 14-12 victory over visiting Jordan last Friday. It was the second year in a row, the Rough Riders upset the Bulldogs by following that philosophy.

Despite not throwing a single pass, the Rough Riders (5-1, 2-0) maintained their share of first place with Bell (5-0, 2-0) by keeping Jordan’s explosive athletes in check.

Although Garfield (2-4, 0-2) did not win at Jordan a week earlier, the 7-0 loss did show what Roosevelt needed to do to at least stay in the contest.

Not that coach Javier Cid needed any convincing. A year ago, he had All-City quarterback Jesse Diaz throw only one pass in the Riders’ upset victory.

This time, he learned heavily on tailback Jesse Lira, who carried 30 times for 106 yards and scored both touchdowns on runs of 13 and three yards.

In both cases, the scores were on short drives of 42 and seven yards. A failed squib kick led to the first TD and Jonathan Mariscal’s 32-yard interception return to the Jordan seven set up the second.

Leading 14-12 at the half, the rest was up to the defense, which did an excellent job of bottling up Deshawn Beck, who was 9 of 18 for 121 yards and a touchdown passing and rushed for 82 yards on 18 carries, but produced few big plays.

“To hold those guys to two touchdowns is unbelievable,” Cid said. “Our defense played their hearts out. We wanted to take time off the clock one play at a time. To the kids, I used the analogy of chopping down a tree one chop at a time.”

Roosevelt defensive coordinator Richard Zepeda said, “It all came down to blocking and tackling and the kids trusting their assignments. We might not have their speed, but we do have good athletes.”

Mariscal is the exception when it comes to speed. In addition to his pick, the junior cornerback batted away a fourth-down pass inside the Rider 10 to seal the win.

“He’s the only guy we have who can match them speed-wise,” Cid said.

Junior defensive lineman Ricardo Marroquin and linebacker Ronnie Lazo, who blocked a point-after kick following a one-yard scoring run by quarterback Jackyle Cooper, also came in for praise.

Special teams rose up on another occasion.

Following Beck’s 44-yard scoring pass to Devante Smith with 24 seconds left in the first half, the Riders stuffed a two-point conversion run that would have tied the score.

“I tip my cap to them, they made the plays and we turned the ball over twice,” Jordan coach Elijah Asante said. “You have to give credit to their defense. They put pressure on us. We didn’t just turn the ball over for no reason.”

Roosevelt has a bye this week prior to an Oct. 23 showdown with Bell. Jordan (2-4, 1-1) is at South Gate in the Eastern League play Friday.

“Bell is going to be a big game because they want us bad,” Cid said.

“We’re a young team, but we are improving,” Asante said. “We’re going to be ready.”

Source: WaveNewspapers.com