HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: WEEK 4 : Antelope Valley Passes Loyola in the Fast Lane, 38-6

Antelope Valley High couldn’t expect its point-a-minute pace to continue against Division I power Loyola on Friday night.

And it didn’t--barely.

The Antelopes settled for a 38-6 thrashing of the Cubs in a nonleague game, their 13th victory in a row since losing to Loyola, 14-7, last season.

Antelope Valley (4-0) averaged a touchdown every sixth play in rolling up 144 points in its first three games. And with three long scores against Loyola, the Antelopes already have scored from beyond 26 yards 15 times.

The bulk of the damage against Loyola (3-1) came from sources other than tailback Jermaine Lewis. The three-year starter who rushed for 200 yards last week against Bakersfield was bottled up, gaining 60 yards in 19 carries.

Coach Brent Newcomb simply uncorked left-handed quarterback Bobby Brown, who had thrown only 19 passes in three games. Brown completed 10 of 14 for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

“They played real soft and we were able to pick on them,” Brown said.

Tony Walker, perhaps the best athlete on a team full of talent, took over for Brown in the waning moments and dashed 51 yards for the Antelopes’ last touchdown.

Walker and Lewis are also part of a defensive backfield that intercepted four passes and held Loyola quarterback Ray Kasper to seven of 23 passing for 86 yards. Walker picked off one, Cory Oggs had two and Charles Pierce had one that he returned 33 yards.

On the first play following Pierce’s interception, Brown hit Walker on a 29-yard touchdown pass play to give Antelope Valley a 32-0 lead midway through the third quarter.

“We have the best defensive backfield in the whole state,” said Trymon Redick, a safety who knocked down four passes. “There is so much speed and experience, they couldn’t get anything past us.”

Redick also scored on a five-yard touchdown run and a 33-yard pass play from Brown in the first half.

Loyola (3-1) finally put together a strong drive to begin the fourth quarter, marching 80 yards in 15 plays capped by Jose Mendoza’s five-yard scoring run.

Antelope Valley, ranked No. 1 in the Valley area by The Times, dominated the first half, allowing Loyola only 85 yards and intercepting two passes. From the opening kickoff, which Walker returned 62 yards, the Antelopes controlled the tempo.

Justin Reinier was Antelope Valley’s steadiest weapon in the half, rushing for 55 yards in six carries and catching a pass for 20 yards. Redick’s touchdowns gave the Antelopes an 18-0 halftime lead.