Antelope Valley Just a Walkover for Dominguez

Tony Walker was bruised and the Antelope Valley High football team was broken hearted.

With Walker sidelined with a bruised left shoulder, Antelope Valley fell to Dominguez, 34-17, Friday night in a Southern Section Division II semifinal at Antelope Valley.

The Antelopes battled without him. They led, 7-3, after the first quarter, and trailed, 24-17, at halftime against the Dons, who shut them out, 19-0, early in the season.

But without Walker, Antelope Valley’s best player, the Antelopes didn’t have a standout to counter Dominguez quarterback Jason Thomas.

Thomas rushed for 150 yards in 12 carries, scoring on runs of 10, nine and 90 yards. He also completed 11 of 18 passes for 160 yards. For good measure, he blocked a field goal.

As for Walker, he practiced with the team this week. But when game time arrived Coach Brent Newcomb granted a request by Walker’s mother not to play him.

Sticking to that plan wasn’t easy. Several times during the game, Walker, wearing a heavy black coat, asked Newcomb to put him in.

“The doctors didn’t say I couldn’t play, but my mom didn’t want me to play,” Walker said. “I wanted to play.

‘I was saying, ‘Coach, can you put me in?’ He was saying, ‘Your mom.’ ”

Newcomb, who has taken the Antelopes (9-3) to the semifinals 10 times in 19 seasons, was left with a team that appeared unsure of itself in crucial situations.

Dominguez (12-1) led, 27-17, midway through the fourth quarter when a 53-yard pass from Justin Mobley to Russell Griffith gave the Antelopes first-and-goal at the Dons’ two-yard line.

Three plays later, Mobley was sacked and fumbled the ball away.

“I normally have another running back in there that runs off tackle,” Newcomb said.

Tony Walker.

Thomas’ 90-yard touchdown run came on the play after Mobley’s fumble and put the game out of reach.

Mobley completed nine of 16 passes for 186 yards, and Gary Hardy rushed for 62 yards in eight carries. The rest of the offense accounted for 14 yards.

The Antelopes were shut out in the second half, but at halftime they appeared to have a chance.

Dominguez had a 24-10 advantage following Thomas’ nine-yard run and an 18-yard burst by Willie Hurst with 1 minute, 49 seconds left in the half.

But with 26 seconds left, Antelope Valley pulled within seven on a 34-yard scoring pass from Mobley to Joe Manning. The second of two 37-yard field goals by Dominguez’s Jose Arguello made it 27-17 in the third quarter.