Antelope Valley Looks Better Than Expected

A preseason poll of Golden League coaches picked Antelope Valley to finish third this season.

It appears, however, that the Antelopes, who have won at least a share of the past three league crowns, still have the ability to kick up a little dust in the high desert.

They beat host Quartz Hill, 29-6, on Friday night in a league opener highlighted by an opportunistic defensive effort that led to 23 points.

Nakia Manick intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown and also returned a blocked field goal 54 yards to set up another score.

Teammate Andrew Campbell blocked the field-goal attempt, recovered a fumble and scored on an 11-yard run.

Quarterback/defensive back Justin Mobley added an interception, a fumble recovery and two touchdown passes.

Manick (87 yards in eight carries) and Campbell (45 yards in eight carries) also helped pace an offense that grounded out 256 yards as Antelope Valley beat its longtime rival for the fourth consecutive season.

The Antelopes lead the all-time series, 29-5.

Mobley completed only three of 11 passes, but two found Russell Griffith (35 yards) and Joe manning (33 yards) for touchdowns.

Quartz Hill running back Hiram Johsnon finished with 143 yards in 12 carries, while David Fetters, the Rebels’ leading rusher this season was limited to only 10 yards in three carries.

Quarterback Erik Holtfreter completed only 10 of 30 passes for 72 yards for the Rebels (3-3), including a five-yard touchdown pass to Brent Byrne with 28 seconds left.

Antelope Valley (3-2) scored four times in the first half, each coming after key defensive plays.

Mobley recovered a fumble at his 44, then connected with Russell Griffith five plays later for a 35-yard scoring pass and a 7-0 first-quarter lead.

Later in the quarter, Andrew Campbell blocked Shauna Murray’s 23-yard field-goal attempt and Manick returned it 54 yards to the Quartz Hill 29.

Campbell scored on an 11-yard run four plays later for a 13-0 lead.

Manick intercepted a Holtfreter pass in the second quarter and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown and a 20-0 lead.

Campbell later recovered another Rebel fumble, setting up Mike Seward’s 22-yard field goal.