Antelope Valley Advances

How quickly things sour.

One minute, Saugus High was driving for a possible score that could have cut Antelope Valley’s lead to three points in the fourth quarter.

Three plays later, the Centurions trailed by 18 points, their tailback was injured, and playing quarterback was a backup whose name could be found only in the junior varsity portion of the team roster.

Chad Murphy intercepted a fourth-quarter pass by Saugus starter Kevin Carrasco and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown to seal Antelope Valley’s 30-12 victory in a Southern Section Division II quarterfinal at College of the Canyons.

Antelope Valley (9-2) will play Peninsula, a 17-0 winner over Arcadia, in the semifinals.

“I was just in the right place,” Murphy said. “I think our speed wears a lot of teams down.”

Two plays before Murphy’s interception, Saugus tailback Jeremy Mushinski was injured and left the game after gaining 101 yards in 15 carries. After Carrasco’s interception, Coach Jack Bowman replaced him with sophomore Chris Kobe to finish out the game.

Saugus (6-4-1) hung in for three-and-a-half quarters, but couldn’t stop Antelope Valley’s big plays.

Three of the Antelopes’ four touchdowns came on plays 28 yards or longer. The fourth was set up by a 32-yard run by quarterback Trymon Redick.

“I think we’ve got size and we’ve got speed,” Antelope Valley Coach Brent Newcomb said of the difference between the two teams.

The outcome never seemed in doubt. Antelope Valley led at halftime, 16-6, despite being outgained.

Redick set up the game’s first touchdown with a 32-yard option keeper to the Saugus one-yard line. Fullback Justin Reinier scored on the next play.

Saugus running back Mark Pecaro fumbled early in the second quarter at the Centurions’ 28.

Antelope Valley running back Jermaine Lewis took a handoff on the next play, ran over left tackle, cut to the left sideline and outran the Saugus defense to the end zone. Antelope Valley led, 16-0.

Saugus drove to the Antelopes’ seven-yard line on the next possession, but turned the ball over on downs when Carrasco was sacked by Caleb Smith and Chad Shrout.

But on its next possession, Saugus mounted an impressive 67-yard drive and scored on Carrasco’s one-yard sneak.

Lewis gained 87 yards and scored a touchdown in 12 carries for Antelope Valley. Redick added 85 yards and one touchdown in 11 carries.

Reinier rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown in six carries.

Carrasco completed 11 of 21 passes for 162 yards. Two of his passes were intercepted.