Football: Game caps emotional week for South East

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South East already figured to play with heavy hearts Friday in its first game since sophomore linebacker-running back Gerardo Leos was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and sidelined for an indefinite period.

Now the Jaguars will play two men short after junior offensive lineman Jorge Garcia was stabbed in the arm Friday morning on campus while trying to break up an altercation between two South East students. Garcia was briefly hospitalized but was expected to be OK, Jaguars Coach Derwin Henderson said.

A girl was seriously wounded in the attack, in which a fellow student said to be her boyfriend also allegedly stabbed the school dean.

South East’s Eastern League opener against visiting Garfield was originally supposed to be a referendum on scheduling. The Jaguars (4-0) have won their games against lackluster competition by a combined score of 167-24, shutting out their last three opponents.

The Bulldogs (0-4) lost to two teams from the Pac-5 Division in Bishop Amat and Edison, a City Section power in Dorsey and a Western Division stalwart in St. Paul. Garfield’s opponents were a combined 12-3 entering Friday.

In the end, all that could matter is that South East has star running back Robert Lewis and Garfield doesn’t. Lewis, who has committed to Southern Methodist but has scholarship offers from 26 schools, is averaging 151 yards rushing per game.

--Ben Bolch