Antelope Valley Puts Party on Ice for Palmdale, 22-14

The Palmdale High football team Friday night could have clinched a tie for its first Golden League championship since 1965.

But the Falcons will have to keep the champagne on ice after a 22-14 loss to two-time defending champion Antelope Valley at Antelope Valley High.

Palmdale (7-2, 2-1) missed two opportunities to at least tie the game when Jason Anderson fumbled at the Antelope Valley 40 with 3 minutes 52 seconds to play, and later when time ran out with the Falcons at the Antelope Valley 20.

Tony Walker, who had 131 yards rushing and receiving, scored both touchdowns for Antelope Valley (6-2, 2-1) in the second quarter with a one-yard run and a 32-yard reception.

Palmdale took a 6-0 lead on a one-yard run by quarterback Jeremy Coleman after Coleman completed an 85-yard pass to Pat Opperman. Coleman and Opperman also connected on a 17-yard pass play for a score in the fourth quarter.

But the game was won in the second quarter, when Walker scored his two touchdowns along with two David Aranzubia field goals that made it 19-6 in a dominant first half for the Antelopes. Aranzubia added a 35-yard field goal to open the second half.

Antelope Valley held Palmdale to two first downs and only 2.3 yards per play if you take away one 85-yard pass play.

Field position? The average starting point of the six Antelope Valley drives was the Palmdale 43, while the average starting spot for the Falcons, who crossed midfield only once, was their own 15.