Antelope Valley Slips Past Highland, 21-6

There was a definite secret to Antelope Valley High’s success against Highland on a rain-drenched Quartz Hill field Friday night.

The Antelopes practiced with a wet football twice this week--and it showed.

Despite heavy intermittent rain showers, Antelope Valley quarterback Bayi Hilton completed 11 of 14 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Antelopes to a 21-6 Golden League victory.

Throwing in the rain was not a problem for Hilton, who had prepared for the inclement weather by taking snaps at practice after the ball was dipped in a bucket of water.

“When it rains, it puts both teams at a disadvantage,” Hilton said. “I wanted to take advantage of that disadvantage.”

Despite the muddy field, Hilton also took advantage of his speed, rushing for 58 yards in 14 carries--most of which came on broken plays.

“Bayi, with his happy feet, he’s always going to make something happen,” Coach Brent Newcomb said.

The Antelopes (4-3, 2-0 in league play), the only undefeated team in the league, took a 14-6 lead just before halftime on C.J. Fagan’s five-yard touchdown run and Chad Shrout’s conversion kick. Fagan finished with 60 yards in 20 carries.

Highland (5-2, 1-1) had opportunities to get back into the game in the second quarter, but squandered them on a fumbled lateral pass and an interception deep in its own territory.

Highland quarterback Travis Sabadin, who completed only one of nine passes for six yards, threw a lateral into the ground on the Bulldogs’ second possession of the second half. The Bulldogs, thinking it was a dead ball, started back to the huddle, leaving Antelope Valley’s James Juneau all alone to fall on the loose ball near midfield.

Two plays later, Hilton scrambled and connected with Heath Renfro near the Bulldog sideline at the Highland 40. Renfro crossed the field and shook loose defenders on his way to a 50-yard touchdown, giving the Antelopes a 21-6 lead late in the third quarter.

Antelope Valley dominated the line of scrimmage and its defense allowed just 109 yards. Highland’s Cleveland Williams rushed for a game-high 65 yards in 17 carries and scored on a 15-yard run in the second quarter to pull Highland to within 7-6.