PREP FOOTBALL ’95 / GOLDEN LEAGUE : SOUTHERN SECTION

FACTS AND FIGURES: Palmdale averaged only 9.5 points a game. Its biggest scoring outburst came against Quartz Hill, a 53-22 loss. . . . Quartz Hill running back Jeremiah Harris last season as a sophomore rushed for more than 1,100 yards. . . . Antelope Valley running back Jermaine Lewis rushed for 1,367 yards and 21 touchdowns. . . . Antelope quarterback Trymon Redick attempted only 50 passes for 265 yards. . . . Washington State might consider recruiting this player: Palmdale center Drew Bledsoe (6 feet 3, 260 pounds), no relation tothe New England Patriot and former star Cougar quarterback. . . . Senior linebacker Sean Cartaya last year led Antelope Valley with 88 tackles. . . . An injured hip caused Littlerock running back Lafayette Bailey to miss five games last season, but he ran 100 meters in 10.8 seconds and reached the finals of the Southern Section meet in the long jump last spring. . . . Littlerock last season had as many ties as victories: three. Lobo Coach Jim Bauer said he hasn’t had that many ties in a season in 22 years of coaching. . . . The average size of Palmdale’s offensive line is 6-2, 259 pounds. . . . Sean Scott, Highland’s 6-4, 190-pound all-league linebacker who had four interceptions, recorded the highest vertical jump by a Californian at the recent Reebok Football Camp: 41 inches.

LAST YEAR: Antelope Valley was underestimated, especially after the Antelopes started 2-2. They won their final nine games, capturing the Southern Section Division II championship by defeating Hart, 36-15. Through three playoff games, Hart averaged 49.6 points, including a 55-23 victory over Quartz Hill in the semifinal. . . . Rebel tight end Andy Rethi caught 29 passes for 480 yards and five touchdowns, and was chosen all-league for the second consecutive season. . . . Highland’s playoff hopes ended one foot shy of the goal line in its 13-7 loss to Quartz Hill after a one-yard scoring run that would have tied the game was negated by a holding penalty. . . . Quartz Hill’s title hopes fizzled when it couldn’t convert on fourth and one at the Antelope Valley 30. The Antelopes, facing third and one on their next drive, sprang Lewis for a 60-yard touchdown.

KEY RETURNERS: Antelope Valley: Tony Walker, safety; Mike Deagon, tackle. Highland: Marcus Prevost, safety. Littlerock: Davon Reese, running back. Quartz Hill: Brian Woodworth, quarterback.

OUTLOOK: With Lewis, Redick and a host of others returning, Antelope Valley is still the favorite, despite an untested line. . . . Quartz Hill could take the title if it it is able to play defense. . . . Ridgecrest Burroughs, which finished second last year, has only three returning starters. . . . Dark horses are Highland, Littlerock and Palmdale. Highland and Palmdale both have 11 starters returning. Highland was close last year and Littlerock has several promising players at the ball-handling positions. A worst-to-first transition for Palmdale is possible, with its returning starters and exceptional team size. But its run-and-shoot offense, with sophomore Grant Livermont at the helm, must produce points. Last season, it did not.

1994 IN REVIEW*--*

League Overall School W L T W L T Antelope Valley 5 0 0 11 2 0 Ridg. Burroughs 4 1 0 7 4 0 Quartz Hill 2 2 1 7 4 2 Highland 2 3 0 5 5 0 Littlerock 1 3 1 3 4 3 Palmdale 0 5 0 0 10 0

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