Roosevelt 27, MacArthur 16: Rashod Owens rushes for 191 yards and three touchdowns.
DISTRICT 27-6A
Quick take: Running back Rashod Owens rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns, and Roosevelt’s defense held MacArthur to three second-half points as the Rough Riders improved to 4-0 with a 27-16 victory Friday in their District 27-6A opener.
“This was a total team effort, and we needed that tonight,” said Matt Carroll, whose Rough Riders have now equaled last year’s win total (4-6).
Owens bowled through the line for tough yards, and churned outside for big chunks of yardage. His firsthalf production of 130 yards and two touchdowns kept Roosevelt in the first half, and the teams were tied 13-13 at halftime.
“In the second half, we took things out wide, and we have another running back that can make things happen for us, too,” Carroll said.
Highlights: After halftime, the Rough Riders’ defense found a way to keep MacArthur (1-3, 0-1) out of the end zone. The defense stuffed the Brahmas on a fourth down, and then stiffened on another red zone appearance, forcing a MacArthur field goal that trimmed Roosevelt’s lead to 20-16.
Earlier, the Riders moved 86 yards in eight plays on their first possession of the second half, capped by Owens’ third TD, plowing over from 3 yards out for a 20-13 lead.
After MacArthur’s field goal, quarterback Dewayne Coleman, who was 10 of 10 on the night, converted two key third-down plays to keep the next drive alive. Running back Robert Meadows capped the drive with a TD from 17 yards out for a 27-16 lead with 3:05 left. Roosevelt linebacker Josiah Carillo intercepted a MacArthur pass with 2:24 remaining to ice the win.
What it means: Roosevelt finds itself in the driver’s seat of District 27-6A. The momentum could carry them into their next two games with 1-2 Madison (which plays Saturday vs. Churchill) and South San, giving them the “Team To Beat” label.
Quotable: “It was a total team effort, and we needed that. This puts us in a new position that we haven’t been in before.” Carroll.
Game balls: Owens. The tailback churned out 191 yards and scored three touchdowns on the night, including 130 yards and two TDs in the first half alone. Coleman. The junior added 104 passing yards to his 10-of-10 effort. He converted on three key third downs to keep Roosevelt’s final three scoring drives alive.
Up next: Roosevelt: vs. Madison, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27, Comalander Stadium. MacArthur: at South San, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27, South San Stadium.