FOOTBALL: Cleveland vs. Roosevelt (10/21/2011)

The Cleveland Warriors led 14-7 in the first half before giving way to the Roosevelt Roughriders 28-14 in a hard-fought PIL battle Oct. 21 at Roosevelt.

Cleveland scored on both a trick play and a nine-play, 43-yard drive in the second quarter to gain its one-touchdown lead.

Roosevelt tied the score a couple of minutes later, though, and then controlled much of the second half behind PIL rushing leader Isiah Jones.

The Roughriders scored midway through the third quarter and added an insurance touchdown late in the fourth period.

Cleveland's offense went cold after halftime. 

The Warriors were able to gain only 43 yards in the second half, when they ran 13 times for 36 yards and were 1 of 6 passing for 7 yards. 

Cleveland had just two first downs in the second half. 

Roosevelt, meanwhile, managed to hold the ball for 15 1/2 of the 24 minutes after the teams came out of the locker room.

The Warriors' defense held Jones in check most of the game — his longest run was for 14 yards — but the unit had trouble getting the Roughriders' offense off the field.

Roosevelt finished the game with 170 yards rushing (3.8 average), and added 166 yards on 13-for-25 passing.

Cleveland threw for 165 yards and ran 30 times for 98 yards (3.3 average).

Total offense: Roosevelt 336, Cleveland 263.

First downs: Roosevelt 21, Cleveland 12. 

The going was mostly tough on this Friday night for the Warriors' ground game, with Jake Peterson and Brandon Riesterer each getting 31 yards on 11 carries.

Cleveland was good through in the air in the first half. Quarterback Ryan Senior completed 9 of 13 for 110 yards — and wideout Spencer Palakiko found a wide-open John Brant for 48 yards and the Warriors' first TD.

Brant finished with four catches for 63 yards, and Keegan Hammond had five receptions for 86 yards.

Cleveland had a chance to take the lead just before halftime, but a second-and-goal pass from the 5 was picked off over the middle.

Roosevelt began the game making a huge break for itself, too. The Riders made a squib kick that died on the artificial turf, and Roosevelt's coverage team got to the ball for the recovery at the Cleveland 25-yard line. 

Roosevelt then made a first down on fourth-and-6, completing an 11-yard pass to the 10. From there, the Roughriders ran the ball twice to get into the end zone and take a 7-0 lead.

Cleveland's defense made some big plays at various times to keep the Warriors in contention.

Linemen Andy Morrison and Thomas Wood each recovered a fumble.

And Brant saved a touchdown with an interception in the end zone at the end of the third quarter.

Eric George averaged 39 yards punting and hit both his extra-point attempts.