(Rowland) – Lightning struck quickly and often for Rowland with four touchdowns on five offensive plays in the first quarter enroute to a 48-14 win over Rosemead.
Before anyone could get comfortable in their seats, the Raiders scored two touchdowns in one minute and 15 seconds. On Rowland’s first play, Michael Ball found Leonardo Freeman (3 catches on 126 yards) on a seam route for 80-yards to jump on the shell-shocked Panthers. After a Matt Fregoso that was recovered by Rowland’s Louis Valdez at the Rosemead 25-yard line. One play later Ervin Crawford rumbled down the sideline for a touchdown.
The quick strike offense that the Raiders exhibited was nothing short of jaw-dropping with only eight plays run in the first half that garnered 28 points.
“We got our motor going early,” said Rowland head coach Craig Snyder. “Scoring five of the first six times can be tough on the offensive rhythm when they run 48 plays to our eight plays.”
Michael Ball finished the night six of nine for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Ball also ran for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Not all was lost in the Panthers loss as Fregoso had another stand-out performance as he punished the Raiders defense for 179 yards on 26 carries.
Rosemead quarterback Matt Macias went eight of 14 for 105 yards and touchdown and interception. Macias’s interception was to Freeman who appeared to jump two feet higher than his 6’2 frame and returned it back for a 45-yard touchdown.
“I think on both sides of the ball we were physical,” said Panthers head coach Matt Koffler. “They have a ton of good players and heard a lot about Ball. He is good player and tough to tackle.”
Macias finally got Rosemead on the board on a 30-yard strike down the sideline to Steven San Miguel to cut the lead to 35-7. San Miguel led all Panther receivers with 43 yards.
Not like the Raiders needed it, but luck was also on their side in the second half as Ball scrambled and threw a bullet that ricocheted off Rosemead defensive back Mike Chavez’s pads and into the waiting arms of Danny McMahan (116 yards rushing and two touchdowns) for a 28-yard touchdown.
Rowland added another score early in the fourth quarter with a 14-play drive for 86 yards that chewed up 6 minutes and 12 seconds. It was the longest drive of the evening for the Raiders. The drive was capped on Freeman’s third touchdown of the night.
The Panthers did get the final score of the night as Macias found Dominic Salas from 10-yards out with 5 minutes and 14 seconds remaining in the game.
ROSEMEAD 0 7 0 7 14
ROWLAND 28 7 7 6 48
SCORING:
(Row) – Leonardo Freeman 80 pass from Michael Ball (Frankie Zuniga kick)
(Row) – Ervin Crawford 25 run (Zuniga kick)
(Row) – Danny McMahan 90 run (Zuniga kick)
(Row) – Ball 59 run (Zuniga kick)
(Row) – Freeman 45 yard interception return touchdown (Zuniga kick)
(Mead) – Steven San Miguel 30 pass from Matt Macias (Chris Cancino kick)
(Row) – McMahan 28 pass from Ball (Zuniga kick)
(Row) – Freeman 29 pass from Ball (kick miss)
(Mead) – Dominic Salas 10 pass from Macias (Cancino kick)
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