Panthers Defense Blanks El Monte

Mead's Angel Lopez was special on Friday night against El Monte. (Photo by Andrew Bettridge)

Mead’s Angel Lopez was special on Friday night against El Monte. (Photo by Andrew Bettridge)

By Alex Gonzalez

(Rosemead)- The Rosemead Panthers defense forced four interceptions, two went for touchdowns and Angel Lopez rushed for 136-yards with two touchdowns in the Panthers 35-0 victory over El Monte friday night at Rod Marinelli stadium. 

After a quick three and out for El Monte’s offense, Mead’s Lopez capped off its 10-play drive with a touchdown, putting his team up 7-0 with 5:58 in the first quarter.

Two series later, Panther defensive back, Jordan Parham picked up quarterback Edward Dominguez’s pass and returned it 18-yards for six before the first quarter ended.

The Panthers added another pick-six before the intermission when Luis Luna returned his interception 99-yards to extend the Mead lead to 21 points before halftime.

Rosemead continued its ground and pound game in the second half.

Six plays into the Panthers drive, Robbie Franco ended his team’s series when the running back walked into the end zone four minutes into the third quarter.

Following the point after, the Panthers pooched the kick-off right over El Monte’s front line and recovered it on the Lions 26-yard line.

No time was wasted when Lopez took the ball and crossed the end zone from 26-yards out on the Panthers’ very next play. Putting the score 35-0 early in the second half.

***Rosemead Starting O-line
RT 66 Nate Aguilar
LG 77 Bloomfield Erick
C 74 Michael Mannschreck
RG 76 Alex Dominguez
RT 72 Johnny Leanos

***El Monte Starting O-line
LT 51 Daniel Rodriguez
LG 60 Luis Diaz
C 74 Fabian Cuevas
RG 79 Bryan Cornejo
RT 77 Jonathan Ponce

***Only 11 seconds separated the Panthers two scoring drives in the second half. Franco scored with 8:22 in the third and Lopez scored with 8:11 remaining in the quarter.

***Mead’s defense picked off four passes, recorded four sacks and forced a fumble in the shutout.

***Panther Running back Angel Lopez: 20 carries for 136-yards and two touchdowns.

***Panther Running back Robbie Franco: Five carries for 42-yards and one touchdown

***”We kinda took a beating the first four games, its nice to win, its a home game, Mission Valley league opener. We hope we can continue from here,” said Panthers Head couch Marc Paramo after the game.

***”My line stepped up, they moved people, I saw big holes, it was a good team victory today,” said Lopez after the game.

***”Angel is a work-horse,” said Paramo. “Hats off to him, he’s a great kid.”

***Lions quarterback Edward Dominguez: 8-28 passing for 99-yards four INTS 54-yards rushing.

***Rosemead continues Mission Valley League play when they travel to Arroyo next week.

***El Monte continues their Mission Valley League schedule when they host Marshall next Friday night.

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