Highland’s 16-3 Victory Skakes Up Standings

Salt and pepper were the order of the night during the Golden League championship game between Highland High and Antelope Valley.

“We had never beaten Antelope Valley on their home field,” said linebacker Paul Soto of Highland. “That put some pepper in our behinds.”

The salt was applied to Antelope Valley’s wounds in the final minute of Highland’s 16-3 victory on Friday, when quarterback Jeremey White appeared to take a knee, then stood up to throw a long pass.

The play led to a spicy exchange between coaches afterward.

Highland (7-3, 5-0 in league play) claimed its first outright league title since joining the Golden League in 1992 and denied the Antelopes (4-6, 3-2) a share of their sixth league championship of the decade.

Highland, Antelope Valley and Palmdale shared the league title in 1996.

Much of the Bulldogs’ title march this season can be attributed to a suffocating defense that gave up an average of 264 yards a game. They did even better against the league’s top offense on Friday.

Highland, which allowed only 30 points in league play, stuffed Antelope Valley’s triple-option offense, allowing 179 yards against a team that was averaging almost twice that.

The Bulldogs also forced five turnovers.

Soto made the night miserable for the Antelopes.

For the second consecutive season, he forced three fumbles. He also intercepted a pass.

Three of Antelope Valley’s four second-half turnovers led to field goals by Jose Duarte, who connected from 39, 37 and 32 yards. He missed a 27-yarder.

“That defense is definitely good,” said Coach Brent Newcomb of Antelope Valley, whose team advances to the Southern Section Division III playoffs as the league’s No. 2 team. “They shut us down.”

Highland’s offense was efficient, if not as dominant as its defense.

Tyrone Brown rushed for 94 yards in 13 carries and scored on an 11-yard run in the second quarter to give the Bulldogs a 7-3 lead.

Jason Miranda’s 36-yard field goal off the crossbar staked the Antelopes to a 3-0 lead.

White completed seven of 16 passes for 116 yards with one intercepted.

Quarterback Demetre Booker of Antelope Valley rushed for 86 yards in 17 carries, but had two passes intercepted. He was two for nine for zero yards.