Loss Sticks in Throat of Antelopes

Antelope Valley High football players say they choked in their 19-0 loss to Dominguez on Oct. 4, the fourth week of the season.

This is fact: the Antelopes coughed once, they coughed twice, they coughed up the ball five times, as in five turnovers--including their final three possessions.

“We basically killed ourselves,” linebacker Ken Thomas said.

Added defensive end Aaron Yost said: “We could have won that game.”

Tonight they get another chance when Antelope Valley (9-2) plays host to Dominguez (11-1) at 7:30 p.m. in a Southern Section Division II semifinal.

In the two months that have elapsed since these teams last met, Antelope Valley players haven’t forgotten their failings during a nonleague loss in Compton.

They no longer have to wonder what the outcome might have been if. . . .

* They didn’t fumble four times and have a pass intercepted.

* Tony Walker’s 17-yard touchdown run was not nullified by a clipping penalty.

* Drives hadn’t stalled at the Dons’ 13 and nine-yard lines.

* They hadn’t blown blocking assignments on a play that tilted the contest in favor of Dominguez.

On the final play of the first half, with the Dons leading, 6-0, David Aranzubia’s 42-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Chris Rhoades and fielded by Jason Thomas, who returned it 81 yards for a touchdown.

“The blocked field goal was the turning point,” Dominguez Coach Willie Donerson said.

A rematch within the rematch pits Dominguez’s Thomas against Antelope Valley’s Walker. Both players are among the most explosive offensive players in the Southland.

In the first meeting, Thomas, a 6-foot-4 junior, misfired on all six of his passes and threw two interceptions. But he rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Walker, a senior, rushed for 95 yards in 18 carries in his first full game at tailback. He had kick returns of 42 and 51 yards and intercepted a pass. But it wasn’t enough.

Walker scored all four Antelope Valley touchdowns in a 28-15 victory over Saugus last week. By most accounts, he looks ready for redemption.

“Tony said he’ll get his payback,” said Ken Thomas, a teammate whose locker is next to Walker’s. “He’ll show whose faster. I think Tony’s faster.”

But Ken Thomas knows stopping Jason Thomas is no easy task.

“You can’t hit him high,” the senior linebacker said. “And if you don’t wrap him up, he’s gone.”

As for coaching strategy, neither team plans to take extreme measures to stop the other’s star player.

“They have other weapons,” Antelope Valley defensive coordinator Wayne Ekimoto said. “We just play straight-up defense.”

Said Donerson: “If we wind up keying on Walker, you have other players go off on you.”

Donerson is concerned with traveling to Lancaster, where the temperature could drop to near freezing and where the Antelopes have won 19 of 20 games.

“The team that lost the first game would definitely have the edge,” Donerson said. “A.V. has more motivation. We shut them out.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

FLASHBACK

Dominguez 19, AV 0

Oct. 4 at Dominguez

KEY PLAYERS

*--*

PASSING AV D J. Mobley Thomas 6-12-0 0-6-2 59 yds. 0 yds.

*--*

*--*

RUSHING AV D Walker Starks 18-95 14-87 E. Mobley Thomas 12-68 14-81

*--*

*--*

RECEIVING AV D E. Mobley none 3-19 Manning 2-27

*--*

TEAM TOTALS

*--*

AV D Passing 59 0 Rushing 136 259 First downs 12 13 Penalty yards 39 50 Turnovers 5 3

*--*

BIG PLAYS

AV’s Eric Mobley fumbles on the Dominguez 13-yard line early in second quarter. Dominguez 6, AV 0.

AV’s Justin Mobley is stopped on fourth and inches at the Dominguez nine with eight minutes left in second quarter. Dominguez 6, AV 0. AV’s Tony Walker runs 17 yards for a touchdown, but the play is nullified by an illegal block. Dominguez 6, AV 0.

Antelope kicker David Aranzubia attempts a 42-yard field goal, but the kick is blocked by Chris Rhoades and Jason Thomas returns it 81 yards for a touchdown on the last play of of the first half. Dominguez 12, AV 0.

Justin Mobley is sacked for a 16-yard loss, killing a third-quarter opening drive that reached the Dominguez 31. Dominguez 12, AV 0.

Justin Mobley fumbles away snap at Dominguez 20 with eight minutes left in the game. Dominguez 12, AV 0.

*

* GAME DAY

A look at other regional Southern Section high school football semifinal playoff matchups tonight. C15