Antelope Valley Offense Gets Drilled Quickly in 20-0 Loss to Bakersfield

Bakersfield High provided testimony to great defense against Antelope Valley on Friday night.

The Antelopes, producers of top-flight running backs in the last decade (Jermaine Lewis, Freddie Edwards and Tommie Smith) were held to one yard rushing by the Drillers in a 20-0 loss at Antelope Valley.

Bakersfield returned eight starters from a defense that had seven shutouts last season. The Drillers picked up where they left off, holding Antelope Valley to 54 yards.

The Antelope Valley offensive line was no match for defensive end Jermaine McDermott and linebackers Aaron Graham and Calvin Hosey. All are Division I prospects and all spent most of the evening penetrating the Antelope backfield.

“They just stalemated us,” Antelope Valley Coach Brent Newcomb said. “They were just tremendous up front.”

Antelope Valley had one bright moment, scoring on a 35-yard pass from Michael Place to Chasio Gaines in the third quarter, but the play was nullified before it even started.

Two flags were thrown as the ball was snapped and the Antelopes were called for illegal procedure.

“I don’t know, we just couldn’t get anything going,” said Place, who completed six of 15 passes for 52 yards.

Tailbacks Bruce Molock and Jermaine Marshall split time for the Antelopes. Marshall was slightly more effective, gaining 29 yards in 10 carries compared to 14 in 11 for Molock, but neither managed well.

“We just learned a lesson,” Molock said. “We’ve got to come out and do better next time. We will get better.”

Antelope Valley managed to slow down the ground-oriented Driller offense but let quarterback James McGill complete passes in critical situations.

McGill attempted only five passes, but he completed four for 80 yards and two touchdowns.

He also gained 57 yards in nine attempts and scored one touchdown.

The Antelopes were able to hold off Bakersfield in the first quarter but things changed in the second.

Facing fourth-and-one at the Antelope Valley 36, McGill tried a sneak. It worked so well, McGill burst through a pile of Antelope Valley defenders and raced 36 yards for the score.

Bakersfield was driving again on its next possession but the Antelopes caught a break when McGill fumbled at the Antelope 37. Michael Graves recovered for Antelope Valley.

But Antelope Valley could do nothing on offense and punted after three plays.