HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: WEEK 3 : Bakersfield Freaked Out in 35-15 Loss to Antelopes

Led by some strange and uncharacteristic plays, Antelope Valley High cruised to a 35-15 victory over Central Section power Bakersfield on Friday night, ending a two-game losing streak to the Drillers.

It was business as usual for the Antelope running game as Jermaine Lewis rushed for 204 yards in 24 carries, but he did not score a touchdown.

Instead, the Antelopes (3-0) found more creative ways to score, such as Tony Walker’s 70-yard touchdown run on fourth down after a botched snap on a punt.

The Antelopes, known for running the ball down opponents’ throats, also scored on pass plays from Bobby Brown to Justin Reiner covering 39 and 53 yards.

“We saw some things that they were doing on defense and we made some adjustments,” said Antelope Valley quarterback Bobby Brown, who passed for a career-high 140 yards.

“We took advantage of what they were giving us.”

The Drillers (2-1), who allowed an average of 120 yards in their first two games, gave Antelope Valley 486 yards in offense, 346 on the ground.

“We have some great speed and we used it,” Coach Brent Newcomb said. “We have some exceptional athletes out there.”

Antelope Valley used its speed in jumping out to a 7-0 lead on its first possession of the game when Lewis carried the ball six times for 50 yards on an 11-play drive, capped by a four-yard run by Tyrmon Riddick.

After the Drillers answered with a 19-yard touchdown run by Adrian Dugas, Brown and Reiner connected on the first of their two touchdowns, a 39-yarder that gave the Antelopes a 14-7 halftime lead.

The Drillers had Antelope Valley pinned deep in its own territory on the Antelopes’ first possession of the second half, but on fourth down Walker was set to punt when the snap hit the ground.

Instead of trying to punt it, he took off and didn’t stop until he reached the end zone 70 yards away to give Antelope Valley a 21-7 lead.

The Drillers did not recover.

Bakersfield’s Nate Lewis completed six of nine passes for 101 yards, but also fumbled to set up a 27-yard touchdown run by Ken Nelson.

Dave Bennett had 88 yards in 12 carries for the Drillers.

For the Antelopes, Reiner rushed for 38 yards in seven carries and also caught two passes for 92 yards.

James Wofford, Bakersfield’s star running back, had 49 yards in 12 carries.