Same Place, Same Thing: Antelope Valley Falls, 24-10

For the second consecutive year, Long Beach Wilson High made the long journey into the numbing cold of Antelope Valley to face the Antelopes in a Southern Section playoff game.

And, for the second consecutive year, the Bruins (7-3-1) ended the Antelopes’ season, winning 24-10 Friday night in a first-round Division I playoff game.

Wilson knocked off the Antelopes, 24-12, in a quarterfinal game last season.

Despite the bitter cold, Bruin quarterback Brady Dunn had no problem passing. He completed all eight of his first-half passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with 12 completions in 15 attempts for 157 yards.

Antelope Valley (7-4) was foiled by critical errors in the opening half, including an illegal-procedure penalty in the second quarter that nullified a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bayi Hilton to David Newman.

“One thing I tried to stress to the kids this week was no crucial mistakes,” Antelope Valley Coach Brent Newcomb said. “We made a bunch of them.”

After the touchdown was called back, the Antelopes settled for a 3-0 lead on a 36-yard field goal by Chad Shrout.

Wilson needed only two plays to cover 80 yards and take the lead. Kevin McKenzie exploded for a 56-yard run. Then Dunn hooked up with wide receiver Devious Banton for the final 24 yards.

Wilson increased its lead to 14-3 on a 22-yard pass from Dunn to Joseph Hunter with 3 minutes 35 seconds to play in the half.

The Antelopes gained only 112 yards in the first half. Bruin defensive end DeMarco Ford sacked Hilton four times.

After a scoreless third quarter, Wilson put the game away in the fourth quarter on Terrius Moseby’s eight-yard scoring run. McKenzie finished with 105 yards in 17 carries.

Hilton completed 17 of 25 for 167 yards for Antelope Valley, and Newman hauled in seven catches for 86 yards.

The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Antelopes, champions of the Golden League.

“We were on a roll,” Newcomb said. “They kind of burst our bubble.”