Shane Ahhing and Tien Tran Look On
By Tim Peterson
(Rosemead) – Matt Macias tossed a 35 yard touchdown pass to Greg Parham with 3:20 left in the game to give Rosemead a 23-20 win over Covina Friday night in the opener for both teams.
The Panthers had just scored on the play before on a 23 yard run by Joey Diaz but it was called back due to a holding penalty. When Rosemead was also called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty the ball was placed back at the 35. But the Macias- Parham connection immediately followed and the Panther faithful left happy.
Covina drove down to the Rosemead 18 on the ensuing drive but a 34 yard field goal attempt with four seconds left fell short and the Panthers held on.
Two Happy Panthers
The score was vastly different than last year’s 50-12 drubbing that the Panthers laid on Covina.
“I think Covina is a real good team. I think Thomas does a great job over there,” said Rosemead Coach Matt Koffler. “Fortunately we were able to come out on top.”
There were three lead changes in the contest. Rosemead fell behind 6-0 early but forged into a 16-12 lead at the half. The Panthers then trailed 20-16 before rallying.
The Covina offense revolved mostly around Sebastian Duran. The Colt quarterback ran for 63 yards and a touchdown and also threw for a score. He completed 13 of 22 for 156 yards. Matt Murray added 68 yards on the ground for Covina.
In the first quarter Duran hit Peter De La Cruz over the middle on a 27 yard touchdown pass to put the Colts up 6-0. Rosemead came right back and pieced together a nine play, 60 yard drive that Diaz finished with a five yard run. The extra point was missed and the score was even at six.
Diaz was the bread and butter all night for Rosemead finishing with 233 yards on 29 carries. In the second quarter Oscar Salazar stepped in front of a Macias pass and returned it 66 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt again failed but Covina was up 12-6.
Diaz capped another drive with a six yard run with just over three minutes left in the half. This time Chris Cancino booted the kick through for a one point advantage.
Cancino also kicked a 23 yard field goal just before the half for a 16-12 lead. The score was set up when Tien Tran recovered an onside kick.
Duran scored on a ten yard run in the third quarter as the Colts regained the advantage. Meanwhile the Rosemead offense struggled and coughed up a fumble.
A bad snap over the head of the Rosemead punter caused a safety and the Colts led 20-16 early in the fourth.
It still looked dim later for Rosemead until Parham hauled in Macias’ TD strike.
Rosemead will travel to Monrovia next week while Covina hits the road for El Monte.
C 6 6 6 2 20
R 6 10 0 7 28
Summary:
1st Qtr:
C 7:22 De La Cruz 27 yd pass from Duran (Kick Failed)
R 1:05 Diaz 5 yd run (Kick Failed)
2nd Qtr:
C 7:07 Salazar 66 yd Int. Ret. (Kick Failed)
R 3:23 Diaz 6 yd run (Cancino Kick)
R :11 Cancino 23 yd FG
3rd Qtr:
C 8:37 Duran 10 yd run (Kick Failed)
4th Qtr:
C 10:52 Safety
R 3:52 Parham 35 yd pass from Macias (Cancino Kick)
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