Antelopes Turn Cold in 24-12 Loss to LB Wilson

The Long Beach Wilson High football team swept into Antelope Valley on Friday night and was greeted by temperatures in the 30s and an Antelope team hot off an upset off Bishop Amat last week.

After a slow start, the Moore League champion Bruins blew Antelope Valley out of the Southern Section Division I playoffs with a 24-12 quarterfinal victory.

Wilson (10-2) will meet Eisenhower, a 38-6 winner over Canyon, next week in the semifinals. The Bruins will take an eight-game winning streak into the match-up with Eisenhower, the top-ranked team in the nation.

“We were looking forward to playing Eisenhower,” Antelope standout Freddie Edwards said.

Edwards, who gained 164 yards in 33 carries, intercepted a halfback pass by Kevin McKenzie with less than six minutes left and the Antelopes trailing, 17-12. Earlier, Edwards intercepted a pass by Brady Dunn.

“I felt we could have taken the game right there,” Edwards said.

However, after Edwards’ second interception, the Antelopes (7-5) could march no closer than the Wilson 49 before turning the ball over on downs with 3:40 to play.

Six plays later, McKenzie broke four tackles on his way to a 16-yard touchdown run to seal the victory.

McKenzie gained 184 yards in 23 carries to lead a Wilson attack that gained 364 total yards.

No gain was bigger than that of Shelby Nelson, who took the snap on a fake punt and raced 53 yards for a touchdown and a 17-6 third-quarter lead.

The Antelopes closed the margin to 17-12 early in the fourth quarter when Bayi Hilton connected with Rodney Flakes on a six-yard touchdown pass. Hilton’s pass attempt on a two-point conversion fell incomplete.

Edwards put the Antelopes ahead early. He broke three tackles on his way to a 21-yard touchdown run to give Antelope Valley a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.

Wilson, with the wind at its back, struck back in the second quarter. Dunn, the Wilson quarterback who misfired on six first-quarter passes, connected with Richard Ashley for a 40-yard scoring pass and a 7-6 edge with 5:23 left in the half.

The Bruins padded their lead on a 39-yard field goal by Pat Baldwin less than two minutes later. The field goal was set up by Edwards’ fumble at the Antelope 21-yard line.