PLAYOFF PROFILES : Ligons Helps Eagles’ Eight

When Aaron Ligons became the starting receiver at Antelope Valley Christian High after transferring from Antelope Valley last year, some of his teammates thought it was because his father was the Eagles’ coach.

After they saw him play his first game, the accusations stopped.

“Some of the kids would talk about it,” Ligons said. “But I haven’t heard any of that since my first game.”

Now in his senior season, Ligons (5 feet 7, 145 pounds) has been a key ingredient in getting the Eagles to today’s 1:30 p.m. eight-man small-schools division semifinal against Riverside Christian at Antelope Valley Christian.

He has 42 receptions for 1,089 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has added four kickoff returns for touchdowns, scored on two interception returns and taken four reverses into the end zone.

“He’s a big-time player,” Coach Mark Ligons said. “Not just in eight-man; he’d be a star on any team.”

The elder Ligons denies he is just a father singing the praises of his son, who runs a 4.49 40-yard dash.

“We have a mutual respect for each other,” he said. “When he’s on the field, he’s just another player.”

Aaron claims that because he’s the coach’s son, things are tougher on him.

“I have to work three times as hard to prove I’m good,” he said.

Aaron transferred to Antelope Valley Christian after his sophomore year at Antelope Valley because his grades were slipping, even though he was slated to start at receiver for the Antelopes in his junior season.

Although Antelope Valley won the Southern Section Division II title last season and again is top-ranked in the division, he can get past that.

“I regretted it a little when they won the rings last year,” he said. “But we’re doing real well this year and have a shot at rings of our own.”