Desert Overtakes Antelope Valley

It was a calculated gamble by a man who does not often gamble. And it backfired on Coach Brent Carder and Antelope Valley College in a 15-12 Foothill Conference loss to host Desert on Saturday night.

The defeat was the first of the season for Antelope Valley (7-1, 5-1 in conference play) and marked the sixth game in a row that the Marauders’s have failed to beat the Roadrunners.

Leading, 12-7, with 1 minute 21 seconds left, Antelope Valley lined up in punt formation on fourth down and three from the Desert 40-yard line. But the ball was snapped to upback Steve Miller, who lost three yards on the play.

After a six-yard run by tailback Tim Davis, Desert reserve quarterback Rick Mathews hit Chuck Cervello on a quick slant, and Cervello broke a tackle and turned the play into a 51-yard touchdown with 47 seconds left.

“It was a play that I called at the line of scrimmage,” said Mathews, who had replaced injured starter Joe Palamares (dislocated right ankle) on the Roadrunners’ previous possession. “When we lined up, I thought it would go for a good gain and he turned it into a huge play.”

Antelope Valley got the ball back but was able to drive to only its own 46 before time expired.

Antelope Valley took a 6-0 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter on a four-yard touchdown pass from Marty Washington to tight end Thomas Reimer.

Washington completed 12 of 25 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, and Reimer had seven receptions for 107 yards and a score.

The Marauders extended their lead to 12-0 on their next possession, marching 73 yards in six plays. The drive was capped by Washington’s 37-yard pass to David Brown with 10:32 left.

But Desert (5-3, 5-1) refused to fold.

The Roadrunners narrowed the deficit to 12-7 with 5:11 left, marching 50 yards in six plays, capped by Palamares’ 25-yard strike to Larry Edwards. Marauder defensive back Rick Starling tipped the ball on the play, but Edwards (three receptions for 56 yards) was able to cradle it before it hit the ground.

The first half ended in a scoreless tie, although Desert outgained the Marauders, 146 yards to 58.