For those unable to attend tonight's match-up between the Garfield Bulldogs and Taft Toreadors the following link will provide a live score log of the game. MaxPreps Qwixcore

By Mario Villegas, Exclusive to EGP

Fresh off a grueling victory over Roosevelt, Garfield High School can win a share of the Eastern League football title with a victory at Huntington Park Friday night.

The Bulldogs have won four straight games to improve to 4-5 overall and 4-1 in league. A win against Huntington Park and they will share the title with Roosevelt (8-2, 5-1) and most likely South East (8-1, 4-1) as well. Roosevelt has completed regular season play and will be seeded in the Division I playoffs Saturday. South East plays Bell (6-3, 3-2) Friday needing a win to stay in the title picture.

Garfield High School linebacker Eleazar Rivera returns an interception 56 yards in the second quarter. His return led to the only score as Garfield defeated Roosevelt in the East L.A. Classic. (EGP Photo by Mario Villegas)

Garfield High School defeated Roosevelt in the East L.A. Classic. (EGP Photo by Mario Villegas)

Garfield ruined Roosevelt’s bid to win the title outright by hanging on to beat Roosevelt, 7-0, last Friday in the 78th East Los Angeles Classic before an estimated crowd of 19,000 at East L.A. College.

Like he was most of the night, Garfield’s Juan Carlos Munoz was in the right place at the right time late in the game. His interception in the end zone ended Roosevelt’s drive to the Garfield six-yard line and ensured the victory for the Bulldogs, their seventh in their last nine meetings with the Rough Riders.

Munoz picked off a pass by Roosevelt’s Jaime Arriaga that was intended for Kenny Orellana in the end zone and returned it 40 yards with 31 seconds remaining.

“The game came down to one play, and what a great situation to be in for a game like this one,” Roosevelt Coach Javier Cid said. “We had an opportunity to possibly win the game, and they had an opportunity to stop us. Give credit to Garfield, they stopped us.”

Munoz said he had a feeling about where the pass was going.

“They threw to the same receiver the play before, so I was kind of expecting it,” explained the 5-foot-10, 150-pound senior. “I didn’t jump it, because at the same time, I didn’t want to get beat. So I waited and went and got it. We got good pressure on the quarterback, which caused him to get it off early and under throw it.”

Said Cid: “It was more about Munoz making a big play (rather than us not executing).”

Munoz, who also plays wide receiver, had a memorable night on offense, too. He caught five passes for 119 yards, including a 17-yard reception that set up the only touchdown of the game.

“He stepped up and did a phenomenal job,” Garfield Coach Lorenzo Hernandez said. “He plays both sides of the ball well for us.”

The play marked the end of a night of missed opportunities for Roosevelt and pivotal plays that went against the Rough Riders. The crowd held its breath expecting to see a long pass go for a touchdown in the first quarter only for the ball to be dropped. There was also a wide-open receiver who got behind the defense couldn’t get to an overthrown pass.

A tipped pass by Arriaga ended up in the hands of Garfield’s Eleazar Rivera who snatched it for an interception and returned it 56 yards to the Roosevelt 22-yard line. Garfield converted the turnover into points a few plays later.

Munoz’ 17-yard reception from Joshua Mendoza set up Lance Fernandez scoring on a nine-yard run with 4:24 left in the first half.

Both sides expected the game to be a battle of defenses.

“I thought it would be a defensive struggle since both teams play great defense,” Hernandez said. “Somebody had to win, and somebody had to lose.”

Defensive end Raymond Sierra also had a big night for Garfield, with three tackles for losses.

Arriaga accounted for most of Roosevelt’s offense. The junior was 15 of 28 passing for 147 yards and was his team’s leading rusher with 59 yards on 11 carries. Gilbert Herrera added 44 yards rushing on 12 attempts.

The Rough Riders defensively were led by linebacker Chris Campos and end Jonathan Godoy.

Garfield’s Fernandez went into the game having rushed for 152 yards and 173 yards in the previous two games with Roosevelt. His rushing total was modest compared to those numbers as he rushed for 83 yards on 21 carries to lead Garfield. Larry Ravelo had 42 yards on 11 attempts. Mendoza completed nine of 16 passes for 148 yards.

Roosevelt leads the all-time series, 39-33-6.

Source: EGPNews.com

Juan Carlos Munoz's interception with 31 seconds left preserves Garfield's 7-0 victory in 78th East L.A. Classic, its third consecutive win over its archrival.

Garfield's Nicky Peralta, left, puts his head down as he collides with Roosevelt's Erik Guerra, right, as Garfield plays Roosevelt in first half at East Los Angeles College on Friday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times / October 26, 2012)

By Steve Galluzzo
October 26, 2012, 11:20 p.m.

Rivalry games are all about pride and Friday night's 78th East L.A. Classic was no exception.

Juan Carlos Munoz intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 40 yards with 31 seconds left to preserve Garfield's 7-0 victory and bragging rights over Roosevelt at East Los Angeles College.

Roosevelt took over at its own 40 with 4:38 left and drove to the Bulldogs' 6-yard line before Munoz, a safety, made his game-saving play.

"I saw the receiver cutting in, I went with him, I caught it and ran," said Munoz, who has never lost to Roosevelt, winning twice on JV and twice on varsity. "The offense struggled at times but the defense came through. This is like a playoff game to us."

If the Bulldogs (4-5, 4-1) beat Huntington Park in their season finale next week they will claim a piece of the Eastern League title. Roosevelt has played one more game and lost its chance to clinch the crown outright.

Lance Fernandez took a handoff nine yards up the middle for a touchdown to put Garfield ahead 7-0 lead with 4:24 left in the second quarter and the Bulldogs made the lead stick with punishing hits and time-consuming drives.

Defensive back Eleazar Rivera set up the score with a 52-yard interception return to the Roosevelt 22-yard line after a pass was tipped.

Fernandez, a senior who missed the Bulldogs' first five games with a knee injury, gained 50 yards in six carries. He had 152 yards and four touchdowns in a 29-15 win against Roosevelt last year and added 173 yards in the Bulldogs' 13-3 win in 2010. Garfield has beaten its rival six times in the last eight East L.A. Classics.

"The crowd, the attention leading up to it, the tradition... something about this game brings out the best in me," Fernandez said. "Running out of that tunnel always gets me pumped up."

Garfield quarterback Joshua Mendoza completed nine of 16 passes for 107 yards and Munoz caught five passes for 125 yards.

"Coming in we knew they were a tough opponent and on this kind of stage we just wanted to chip away," said Mendoza, whose father graduated from Garfield in 1982. "It was a nailbiter but our defense did a great job."

Homecoming king Gilbert Herrera rushed for 62 yards in 12 carries and caught four passes for 17 yards for the Rough Riders (8-2, 5-1). Quarterback David Arriaga completed 15 of 27 passes for 146 yards and two interceptions.

It was the first shutout in the rivalry since Roosevelt won 33-0 in 2003. Roosevelt leads 40-32-26 in a series that began in 1925.

"I have high expectations for the defense," Fernandez said. "They always get the stop when we need it."

Source: LATimes.com

By Ron Guild, Sports Editor | Posted: Saturday, October 27, 2012 1:00 pm

Juan Carlos Munoz had a feeling he was going to get a another chance to make the big play.

The Garfield High School defensive back had just seen Roosevelt quarterback David Arriaga’s throw incomplete over the middle in the end zone. He didn’t have a shot at the low throw that fell incomplete.

But he did on the next one.

Stepping in front of intended receiver Kenny Orellana, Munoz intercepted Arriaga’s pass in the end zone and returned it 40 yards with 31 seconds left to preserve the Bulldogs’ 7-0 victory Friday in the 78th East L.A. Classic at East L.A. College.

It capped a big night for the 5-foot-10, 150-pounder who also plays wide receiver on offense. He was also a big part on that side of the ball with five catches for 119 yards, including a 17-yarder that set up the only touchdown of the game.

“The play before they went to the same receiver, so I kind of expected it,” Munoz explained. “At the same time I didn’t want to get beat. So I didn’t jump it. I just waited and saw it underthrown and went and got it.”

“The kid really stepped up and did a phenomenal job,” Garfield coach Lorenzo Hernandez said of Munoz. “He plays both sides of the ball and plays it well for us.”

For Garfield (4-5, 4-1), its fourth consecutive victory created what will likely see the Eastern League end with three teams sharing the title. Roosevelt (8-2, 5-1) has finished its regular season and now awaits the City Section seeding meeting. Garfield and Roosevelt are Division I, while South East (8-1, 4-1), which closes against Bell, is Division II.

The final drive was just the latest that came up short on a frustrating night for the Rough Riders.

Starting at their own 40 with 4:38 left, they drove on the passing of Arriaga (15 of 28 for 147 yards), mostly to Walter Cano. He got them down to the six with under a minute left before throwing the pick.

“Despite the interception, I thought it was more the Garfield kid making a big play than our quarterback making a mistake,” Roosevelt coach Javier Cid said.

There were lost chances even before the end.

There was Orellana dropping a sure TD pass early in the contest and Arriaga overthrowing his brother on another occasion when he got behind the defense.

Another pivotal interception was also a case of a ball being tipped.

Eleazar Rivera picked the pass off and returned it 56 yards to the Roosevelt 22.

From there, the Bulldogs soon converted.

After a false start set them back to the 27, Munoz hauled in a 17-yard pass from Joshua Mendoza (9 of 16 for 148 yards), leading to Lance Fernandez scoring on a nine-yard run with 4:24 left in the half.

That score would standup as both defenses made it tough for the opposition to sustain drives.

That was no surprise to Garfield’s Hernandez.

“I thought it was going to be a defensive struggle on both sides of the ball,” he said. “Both teams have great defenses. Somebody had to win and somebody had to lose.”

“This was probably the best anybody has done at stopping our run,” Roosevelt’s Cid said.

Garfield’s defense had other heroes besides Munoz. Defensive end Raymond Sierra had three tackles for loss and was a constant disrupting force up front.

As Cid noted, the Rough Riders had only one significant long rushing attempt, a 28-yarder by Arriaga to start the second half. He finished as their leading rusher with 59 yards on 11 carries. Gilbert Herrera was held to 44 on 12 attempts.

Fernandez, who had 152 and 173 yards rushing in the previous two Classics, gained 83 yards on 21 carries to lead the Bulldogs. His best run was a 17-yarder.

Fullback Larry Ravelo added 42 yards on 11 attempts.

Singling out Rider defensive lineman Jonathan Godoy and linebacker Chris Campos, Hernandez said he was impressed with that unit.

“We wanted to dominate the line of scrimmage but it was hard to do with those two,” he said. “They have a stellar defense and did a great job all night long.”

Source: WaveNewspapers.com

Juan Carlos Munoz intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 40 yards with 31 seconds left and Garfield held on to defeat Roosevelt 7-0 in the 78th East L.A. Classic at East Los Angeles College.

If Garfield can beat Huntington Park in its regular season finale next week it will gain a share of the Eastern League title.

Fittingly, it was Bulldogs senior running back Lance Fernandez who scored the game's only touchdown on a nine-yard run in the second quarter. He has had three huge games against his neighborhood rivals--all ending in Garfield victories. Garfield has won six of the last eight East L.A. Classic games.

"The crowd, all the attention leading up to it... something about this game brings out the best in me," said Fernandez, who gained 50 yards in 16 carries. "Coming out of the tunnel gets me so pumped up. My O-line did a great job--all credit to them."

Fullback Larry Ravelo, who has had six family members play in the rivalry, had 63 yards in 15 carries and quarterback Joshua Mendoza threw for 107 yards.

Homecoming king Gilbert Herrera was limited to 62 yards in 13 carries for the Rough Riders, who still lead 40-32-6 in a series that began in 1925. The last shutout was in 2003 when Roosevelt won 33-0.

-- Steve Galluzzo

Source: LATimes.com

October 28, 2012 By: Nick Hamilton

It was the 78th meeting between Garfield and Roosevelt High Schools, one of the oldest rivalries in sports and in Los Angeles. With a win on Friday night and a win next Friday against Huntington Park, the Garfield Bulldogs could claim a share of the Eastern League title. For the Roosevelt High Rough Riders a win over their rival opponents would be satisfaction enough.

It was a tight defensive battle until the second quarter, when defensive back Eleazar Rivera caught a 52-yard interception return to the Roosevelt 22-yard line after a tipped pass. The Bulldogs Lance Fernandez took a hand off and ran the ball up the middle for the touchdown to put Garfield ahead 7-0. Fernandez missed the Bulldogs first five games due to a knee injury.

The score would remain the same until the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs planned another drive. As quarterback Joshua Mendoza who was sensational on the night, failed to convert on a the drive and was forced to punt the ball to Roosevelt. The Rough Riders took over at the 40 yard line with 4:30 left in the final quarter of play, and drove it down to the Bulldogs 6 yard line. Quarterback David Arriaga threw a spectacular pass in the end zone, only to be intercepted by the Bulldogs safety Juan Carlos Munoz. Munoz ran the ball back to the 40 yard before he was brought down with 31 seconds left in the game to seal the victory for Garfield.

Munoz has never lost to Roosevelt in his four year career, "the offense struggled at times but the defense came through. This is like a playoff game to us."

As the clock ticked down a stunned Roosevelt could only look on as they were shutout 7-0, in another epic battle between the two schools. This was the first shutout in the rivalry since 2003 when Roosevelt destroyed Garfield 33-0. Roosevelt still leads the series 40-32 since it began back in 1925.

Garfield (4-5, 4-1) quarterback Joshua Mendoza completed 9 of 16 passes for 107 yards and Juan Carlos Munoz finished with five passes for 125 yards. Lance Fernandez finished with 50 yards and 6 carries. "The crowd, the attention leading up to it, the tradition something about this game brings out the best in me," Fernandez said. "Running out of that tunnel always gets me pumped up."

"Coming in we knew they were a tough opponent and on this kind of stage we just wanted to chip away," said Mendoza. "This was an important game and out defense did an excellent job."

Roosevelt (8-2, 5-1) David Arriaga completed 15 of 27 passes for 146 yards and had 2 INT's. Gilbert Herrera rushed for 62 yards for 12 carries along with four caught passes for 17 yards.

Source: Examiner.com

By Ron Guild, Sports Editor | 0 comments

Lorenzo Hernandez couldn’t be more excited about Garfield High School’s football prospects this season — apparently with good reason.

This just may be one of the most talented and well-balanced squads the veteran coach put together at the East L.A. school that opens the season at home Aug. 24 against Southern Section power St. Bonaventure.

“This is a great group of guys,” he said. “I think this team ranks with our 2007 team (that won the City Invitational Division title and went 11-3). It’s very balanced and the work ethic is great. I think we’re a contender for the City (Division I) championship. We can compete with anyone. This is a special group of kids.”

Josh Mendoza, an All-Almont League quarterback at Alhambra last year, is the big addition to the roster. He completed 50 percent of his passes for 1,510 yards and 13 TDs as a junior.

“He’s such a student of the game and has great poise in the pocket to go with incredible arm strength,” Hernandez said.

The running game took a hit when All-City tailback Lance Fernandez suffered a knee injury in June. Hernandez said he’s out for the season.

But the cupboard isn’t bare because Ty’Jon DeLancy returns after serving in a backup role a year ago and has plenty of promise. Larry Ravelo will get more carries this year after moving from fullback to tailback.

The receiving corps is a talented group that is headed by Cleo Session, Juan Muñoz, Fabian Gonzalez and Marcos Zambrano.

“We have a very special group of wide receivers,” Hernandez said.

Anchoring the offensive line is 6-4, 255-pound senior Alfonso Cid, who played football at Camp Kilpatrick two years ago. After sitting out football last season, he’s been a standout in preseason workouts.

“He tossing kids around,” the coach said. “He’s big and he’s physical.”

Cid joins returning starters Jason Morales, b>Chazz Peralta and Jose Romero, as well as new center Christian Espinoza to form a solid group.

“This is one of our strengths,” Hernandez said of the offensive front.

Defensively, linebackers Antonio Huezo and Alejandro Lupercio, as well as strong safety Marcelino Reyes are the leaders. Lupercio is a 4.2 student. Reyes is the best player on that side of the ball.

The defensive linemen are Cesar Quiroga, Gabriel Vega and Eri Velasquez. Quiroga remainds Hernandez of former All-City Bulldog Moses Saucedo. Session is a starter at free safety.

Source: WaveNewspapers.com

Too many football coaches are abandoning the City Section, but Lorenzo Hernandez of Garfield is hanging tough, and he's trying to bring along his players by creating opportunities for them to excel.

And one way is by scheduling top nonleague games that will test them.

Just look at the Garfield nonleague schedule for 2012: Ventura St. Bonaventure, Huntington Beach Edison, Dorsey and Venice.

"Expose your kids to the best if you want to be the best" is the philosophy Hernandez is following.

Garfield players should be thankful for having a coach who believes in trying to challenge his players and not just sit back and take a victory against a mediocre team.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Source: LATimes.com

There's two ways to build a football program. You can hire a bunch of youth coaches as assistants, hoping they'll convince players to show up at the high school, along with trying to recruit parents to get their sons to show up.

Or you can build the program the old-fashion way, with hard work and challenging the players to get better. That's what Los Angeles Garfield is trying to do under Lorenzo Hernandez.

Hernandez continues to put together nonleague games that force his players to raise their game to be competitive. They haven't necessarily been winning the games, but they play hard and it helps prepare them for City Section competition.

In 2011, the Bulldogs will open with a week zero game against La Puente Bishop Amat, followed by games against Huntington Beach Edison, Dorsey and Santa Fe Springs St. Paul.

Good for the Bulldogs. No one will say they are ducking competition.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Source: LATimes.com

Football Coach Lorenzo Hernandez from Los Angeles Garfield is one of 13 high school coaches recognized as a winner of the CIF Model Coach Award that is designed to honor coaches who have served as positive role models in their schools and communities.

Other honorees include wresting coach Alan Clinton from Anaheim Servite, basketball-tennis-softball coach Sallie Kane from Bell and softball coach Margaret Neill from Lancaster Paraclete.

"This is the highest and most prestigious award the CIF bestows upon its coaches," CIF Executive Director Marie Ishida said in a statement.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Source: LATimes.com

Hernandez has received credit for transforming the stereotype of what an athlete should act like on campus. The football players at Garfield today are known not only by their jerseys, but their positive, courteous and appropriate behavior in the classroom. Hernandez is the key. He leads by example and holds his coaching staff accountable to do the same. His team won the Academic Excellence Award in 2009, earning the highest grade-point average of all football teams in the Los Angeles City Section. On the field, Hernandez has led Garfield to a pair of league titles and an appearance in the Division I playoffs.

If there's any coach who deserves a 10-year contract, it's Lorenzo Hernandez of Los Angeles Garfield. From his assistant coaches to his players, everyone displays class and respect.

Thanks to his leadership, Garfield has become a competitive City Section Division I team even with its 44-14 loss to Woodland Hills Taft on Thursday. He's the one who chose to put his team in Division I, asking everyone to raise expectations, and slowly the Bulldogs are getting there.

Their lineup was full of juniors, and they just couldn't handle Taft's superior speed. But behind the scenes is what's so impressive.

I sat in the stands next to the Taft press box much of the game, and to see former players and freshman-sophomore players coming up to the assistant coaches, respectfully shaking their hands, and the lack of profanity coming from the fans, was so refreshing.

I can only conclude that Hernandez and his assistants are teaching lessons to last far beyond the football field, and that's someone Garfield needs to keep for years to come.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Source: LATimes.com