West Side makes it two straight weeks over Roosevelt
By Tommy Williams Post-Tribune correspondent October 19, 2012 11:51PM
Updated: October 19, 2012 11:53PM
GARY — In sports, as in life, history does tend to repeat itself, and no one can tell you that better than Roosevelt’s football team.
West Side quarterback Ramone Atkins torched the Panthers defense for the second straight week as West Side beat Roosevelt 54-12 in their Class 4A sectional opener on Friday night.
The Panthers went into the game without their head coach Jeff Karras, who was fired hours before opening kickoff apparently because of Karras’ breaking a rule involving transporting Roosevelt players home after games and practices.
“He was a good coach and it just didn’t feel right without him out there,” said Roosevelt running back Jerry Ruiz.
Which brings us back to history repeating itself. Karras has previous stints at Andrean and South Central, which lasted one season apiece. Time spent at Roosevelt: nine games.
Atkins would see to it that it felt even worse for the Panthers. One week after throwing three TD passes against Roosevelt, Atkins doubled his pleasure with six scoring passes, including three to Jon Vea Johnson.
“He is a very good young player, but he has some pretty good receivers to throw the ball to,” said West Side coach Jason Johnson.
For West Side, it’s the third straight game they have scored 50 points or more and the fifth time this season they’ve gone over the half-century mark.
“We felt deflated when we heard he news (about Karras), but they have a pretty good team over there,” Ruiz said. “They have good players who have speed.”
Ruiz had a hand in both Roosevelt touchdowns, scoring from eight yards out and throwing a TD pass to Anthony Brown.
