Football: South East could be on verge of first victory over Garfield
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South East has never beaten Garfield in its six-plus years of varsity football.
Friday could be the night.
The Jaguars have a 24-14 halftime lead over their Eastern League rivals, with Robert Lewis making most of the big plays. The running back has 95 yards and two touchdowns in only nine carries.
Quarterback Jonathan Santos made the other big play for South East, connecting with Christian Quinones on a 49-yard touchdown pass.
Garfield’s Lance Fernandez is more of a bruising-style running back than the explosive Lewis, but he can be equally effective. Fernandez has 96 yards and two touchdowns in 13 carries.
One factor that appears to be in South East’s favor if it can hold a two-score lead into the fourth quarter is Garfield’s shaky passing game. Bulldogs quarterback Nicky Peralta completed three of six passes for 10 yards in the first half and didn’t look very confident.
A victory would be a nice tribute to a pair of South East players who are being hailed as heroes: offensive lineman Jorge Garcia, who earlier in the day helped rescue a classmate who was stabbed, and linebacker-running back Gerardo Leos, who last weekend was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Both Lewis and Jaguars Coach Derwin Henderson are wearing jerseys with No. 14 to honor Leos, who is sidelined indefinitely.
--Ben Bolch