SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL : ROUNDUP : Late Penalties Haunt Quartz Hill in 13-12 Loss

Quartz Hill High dominated on offense but self-destructed in the fourth quarter as Hesperia defeated the Rebels, 13-12, Friday night in a nonleague football game at Apple Valley High.

Quartz Hill quarterback Jake Haro passed for 138 yards and three rushers combined for 148 yards, but three Rebel penalties late in the fourth quarter aided Hesperia’s final drive.

Trailing, 12-7, with four minutes remaining and facing second and eight on its 48-yard line, Hesperia became the beneficiary of two face-mask penalties and an offsides penalty that put the Scorpions on the Rebel three.

Hesperia (2-1) scored two plays later on Norman Clarke’s one-yard run.

On the Rebels’ final possession, Haro fumbled and defensive back William Riggins recovered at the Quartz Hill 18 with 2:35 to play.

Four Hesperia rushers totaled 80 yards and quarterback Brian Kalk passed for 122.

Hesperia closed to within 12-7 on a controversial pass play. Rebel players protested in vain that Clarke pushed cornerback David Haney during an 87-yard scoring reception with 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Quartz Hill (2-1) took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter when David Nelson dodged three tackles down the left sideline and sped 52 yards for a score. The Rebels struck again in the third quarter for a 12-0 lead on a three-yard run by Erik Thomas.