Palmdale Rises to the Top

LANCASTER — Sure, Palmdale High was happy to jump into a three-way tie for the Golden League football championship last season. The Falcons hadn’t finished atop the league since 1965.

This year, Palmdale has a different attitude: Sharing is overrated.

So the Falcons went out and beat longtime league bully Antelope Valley, 20-16, on its home field Friday night to claim sole possession of first place.

“This is one we’ve been waiting a long time for,” said seventh-year Falcon Coach Jeff Williams, whose team broke an eight-game losing streak against the Antelopes dating to 1988.

Antelope Valley has won or shared the last three Golden titles.

The Falcons (6-2, 3-0 in league play) can thank running back Jason Anderson, a touted senior who had gained only 372 yards in his first six games before exploding for 499 in his last two.

He shredded Antelope Valley’s defense for 256 yards and three touchdowns in 19 carries. He gained 243 in 19 tries last week against Quartz Hill.

“This is the happiest moment of my life,” said Anderson, whose 50-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter helped the Falcons (6-2, 3-0) overcome a 16-12 deficit.

Anderson scored on a 70-yard run to open the third quarter and on a 42-yard run in the first quarter.

His 14-yard run on a third-quarter draw play pushed him over the 3,000-yard mark in his career.

“He had an absolutely amazing night,” Williams said.

Said Antelope Coach Brent Newcomb: “We couldn’t tackle the guy. He’s living up to his recent billing.”

But Anderson had a lot of help.

Backfield mate Shaun Perez added 92 yards in 17 carries.

Palmdale’s offensive line consistently moved Antelope Valley off the line, the defense contained elusive Antelope quarterback Justin Mobley and limited the Antelopes’ traditionally strong running game to only 65 yards.

“Our defense kept us in the game all night,” quarterback Grant Livermont said of Palmdale, which limited the Antelopes to 211 yards and forced Russell Griffith to punt nine times. Antelope Valley (4-3, 2-1) crossed the 50-yard line only twice in the game.

In fact, 10 of Antelope Valley’s points came from its defense, a trend that has continued through three league games.

Joe Manning’s 75-yard interception return of Livermont’s pass helped the Antelopes to an 8-0 first-quarter lead.

Palmdale punter Anthony Valentino booted a ball out of his own end zone for a safety after chasing down an errant snap. The play, which gave Antelope Valley a 10-6 halftime lead, marked the ninth time in three weeks that a defensive play led directly to a score for the Antelopes.

Antelope Valley could do little else, although Mobley’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Charles Socci in the final minute of the third quarter gave the Antelopes a 16-12 lead.

Anderson responded with his third touchdown run on the next play from scrimmage, a run that just may have put the Falcons in the money for the first time in 32 years.