Reese’s Runs Rock Quartz Hill, 12-10

Coach Jim Bauer hasn’t had an easy time commanding respect in the seven varsity seasons since he opened Littlerock High and joined the Golden League.

It doesn’t help when the name of your school is Littlerock and one of your biggest obstacles is Quartz Hill.

But after a rousing 12-10 victory over Quartz Hill at Antelope Valley High on Friday night, Bauer no longer feels like he’s pushing a pebble up a mountain.

“I’m pumped, I’m pumped,” he bellowed after his Lobos (6-1, 1-0 in league) extended their best start in school history. “This is a little bit different than 66-13 three years ago, eh?”

Michael Woods, a 5-foot-6, 137-pound running back whose nickname is “Tiny,” came up big, rushing for 116 yards in 20 carries. And running back Devon Reese, who finished with 128 yards in 14 carries, scored on runs of 68 and 10 yards.

Reese’s 68-yard score stunned Quartz Hill (3-3, 0-1), as it came only two plays after the Rebels moved 76 yards in 14 plays in their opening drive, capped by a 31-yard field goal from Michael Newling to make it 3-0.

But then came Reese’s run for a 6-3 lead.

With 48 seconds left in the second quarter, Reese scored on a 10-yard sweep one play after he caught a 27-yard pass on fourth and three at the Rebel 37. The conversion run failed.

Littlerock neutralized Quartz Hill running backs Jacob Waasdorp (10 carries, 63 yards), who managed only 18 yards after the first drive, and Jeremiah Harris (19 carries, 60 yards), who had minus-four yards in his final eight carries.

Quartz Hill moved within striking distance in the fourth quarter when David Fetters ran 25 yards on a fake punt for a first down.

Don Simmons fumbled after a 34-yard pass reception and Hiram Johnson scooped up the fumble and ran 13 yards into the end zone.