Antelope Valley Runs Wild, 48-3

Downey High football fans came to Gahr High’s stadium Saturday night to see what their Vikings could do against defending champion Antelope Valley in the semifinals of the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

The answer was nothing.

With a 48-3 rout of the San Gabriel Valley League champs, the Antelopes (12-1) will get a rematch with Hart in the title game Friday night.

The answer came 25 minutes after the opening kickoff, after Jermaine Lewis carried six times for 96 yards and three touchdowns.

It came with 2 minutes 1 second remaining in the first quarter and the Antelopes cruising, 21-0.

And if there was any debate on whether to stay or head out for a little Christmas shopping before the malls closed, Antelope Valley answered that with two more scores in the final 56 seconds of the half to make it 35-3.

Quarterback Bobby Brown capped a 10-play, 88-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring pass to Milton Wynn.

Then, after Downey’s Dorae Lewis fumbled on first down, Brown and Wynn connected again on a bomb that covered 45 yards with 28 seconds left.

Those who did leave missed Tony Walker’s 102-yard interception return for a touchdown that gave Antelope Valley a 45-point lead in the third quarter.

“We got points on the board right away,” Antelope Coach Brent Newcomb said. “Turn out the lights.”

Downey (11-2) had five turnovers, three on its first five possessions. The Vikings managed only 82 yards of offense, 59 of it coming on a 15-play drive that resulted in a 32-yard field goal by Rafael Navarro.

Antelope Valley? Five possessions, five touchdowns.

The first one--a 26-yard run by Lewis--came on the Antelopes’ first play after Cade Smith intercepted Ariel Guitron’s pass on the third play of the game.

On the play, Lewis broke the Antelopes’ single-season rushing record, passing Billy Hilliker, who rushed for 2,069 in 1976. Lewis, who rushed for 228 yards in 17 carries, has 2,282.

Walker scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter before intercepting Guitron’s pass on first and goal from the eight. His return broke Freddy Edwards’ school record of 97 yards.

Brown finished seven of nine Lewis, who came out in the third quarter, is now setting his sights on Hart.

“We know what we gotta do; we’ve been there before,” said Lewis referring to a 36-15 victory over Hart as underdogs last year. “The only difference is, this time, we’ll probably be the favorite.”