QB Angel Alejandre led Rosemead to the CIF Finals in 2008
While talking to Rosemead Coach Matt Koffler Wednesday about this year’s team we were discussing his starting quarterback -Adanguillen Alejandre- brother of former Mead QB Angel (class of 2009). Angel’s last game for the Panthers was December 13, 2008 in the CIF Mid-Valley Finals against Paraclete at Knight High School in Palmdale. This brought back memories of Tra Sumler, Gilbert De La Rosa, Cesar Chavez and the rest of the Panthers gang. Even though Rosemead fell 21-10 on that cold December night, it was a game that the players will always remember. Here’s the game story.
Rosemead Stopped Cold
(Palmdale) – In temperatures that dipped into the high twenties with the wind chill factor, it was the Rosemead offense that was stopped cold in a 21-10 loss to Paraclete in the CIF Mid-Valley Finals Saturday night at Knight High School.
The Panther offense mustered just three points – a 32 yard field goal by Bobby Maldonado just before halftime to cut the Spirits’ lead to 14-10. Rosemead’s lone touchdown was scored by the defense.
Tra Sumler had only 34 yards rushing in the first half and finished with 119 yards on 27 carries. But his longest run from scrimmage was 14 yards and he was never able to bust loose.
“We really couldn’t control the field on them. They made all the plays and we didn’t,” said Rosemead coach Matt Koffler. “They did a great job tonight. My hat is off to their staff and their kids.”
Paraclete got on the board on its first series. The Spirits marched 80 yards on ten plays. Dante Donato capped the drive with an eight blast up the middle.
Rosemead was stopped on its first possession but then the defense got into the act. On the Spirit 22, Sumler stood up quarterback Robbie Thompson, the ball popped loose and Gilbert Del La Rosa scooped it up and raced 12 yards into the end zone to tie it at seven.
On the Panthers’ next possession, a dropped pass by an open receiver cut short a potential go ahead drive. Paraclete immediately responded by driving another eighty yards for the go ahead score.
Thompson went over the top and connected with Matt Cordova on a 22 yard scoring strike to finish the drive for a 14-7 lead in the second.
Maldonado’s boot with five seconds left in the half cut the lead to four.
Both teams failed to score in the third quarter. Thompson had a pass picked off in the end zone by Sumler and the Panthers began to march. And march they did down to the Paraclete 45 and into the fourth quarter when the drive stalled and disaster struck.
From the 45, Maldonado booted the ball down to the Paraclete five yard line where Brandon Buteyn fielded it amongst a host of Panther defenders. Buteyn eluded a couple of tackles and broke a couple more. He got to the corner and outran the entire Rosemead coverage for a 95 yard touchdown return.
One play the Panthers are marching down the field looking to take the lead and the next they’re staring at a 21-10 deficit with 7:42 left. The return not only broke the heart of the Rosemead faithful that filled the visitor’s stands, it broke the Panthers back.
“That was the first one to go on us all year so we didn’t expect that to happen,” Koffler said. “It looked like we were waiting for somebody else to make a play all game. On that one it looked like we were just waiting for somebody else to make the tackle instead of those guys running down the field.”
The Panthers got the ball back three more times in the contest but were unable to generate any momentum.
“We just couldn’t get anything going. We would move it a little and then get stopped,” Koffler said.
Angel Alejandre completed 18 passes for 150 yards but was under constant pressure from the Paraclete front line.
Buteyn and Donato combined for 110 yards on the ground for Paraclete. Thompson connected on seven of 12 passes for 98 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Paraclete turned the ball over four times but still managed to get the job done. Rosemead had two turnovers but was hurt by missed opportunities and missed tackles.
For the Panthers it was its first CIF Finals appearance since 1982. They finished the season with a record of 11-3.
“They’ll remember this experience for a lifetime,” Koffler added.
Paraclete also finished 11-3 winning 11 straight after three losses to start the season.
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