Recruiters Miss Gem at Quartz Hill

It is difficult to believe a blue-chip Division I recruit can slip the through the cracks, but Coach Jeff Williams of Palmdale says that is exactly what happened with senior defensive back Tyrone Culver.

Culver, 6-2 and 190 pounds, runs a 4.3 40-yard dash, has good grades and a qualifying SAT score.

“He’s prepackaged and ready to go,” Williams said.

Last week, Culver had two interceptions, his seventh and eighth of the season, in a 56-0 victory over Quartz Hill. He returned one for a touchdown.

But, going into this week, when Palmdale (6-1-1, 3-0 in league) hosts Antelope Valley (7-1, 3-0) for the Golden League championship, Culver has only drawn serious interest from Nevada Las Vegas.

“That disappoints me,” said Williams, who has former players starting at Stanford, Arizona and Oregon State. “I usually don’t miss and have a pretty good track record on these things.”

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Linebacker Greg Root of Highland had a unique message for the crowd last week at his school’s pep rally. As he walked across the gymnasium floor, he lifted his jersey to unveil a T-shirt that read, “Root/Mayfield for City Council.”

Root’s father, Jim, is running for office in Palmdale next Tuesday and Greg has helped the campaign by posting Root signs around town.

The election is special to Greg for another reason. He turned 18 on Oct. 5 and is eligible to vote.

He’s already learned the American way of free trade.

“I’m trying to negotiate with my dad,” he said. “I want to find out what he’ll give me to vote for him, maybe some new shoes or clothes.”

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Antelope Valley is calling its defense the “Red Swarm.”

The Antelopes are allowing 183.5 yards a game, fourth in the region, and continue to thwart vaunted running backs.

Last week, they limited John Ford of Littlerock to 55 yards in a 19-0 victory. Ford has rushed for 1,004 yards and 13 touchdowns, including four 200-yard games.