Palmdale Upsets Notre Dame

The season goes on for Palmdale High. And so does the dedication from a younger brother to his older brother.

LaRon McIntyre rushed for 104 yards, including an important 42-yard scamper in the final minutes, and ninth-seeded Palmdale upset top-seeded Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 14-7, in a quarterfinal game of the Southern Section Division III football playoffs Friday at Palmdale.

Not a day goes by where McIntyre doesn’t think about his brother, George, who died in an accidental drowning in July at the Littlerock Reservoir. George McIntyre would have been a senior halfback for the Falcons.

“Every time I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is say, ‘I love you George,”’ said LaRon, a 5-foot-4 junior. “I’m doing this all for my brother, running hard and dedicating the season to him.”

McIntyre’s, swiveling, cutting, 42-yard run with 2:53 left all but sealed the victory for Palmdale (9-3), which advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 1988.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Coach Jeff Williams said.

Marlon Washington scored twice for Palmdale on five-yard runs with 8:12 and 3:46 left in the third quarter.

Notre Dame (10-1) managed only 159 yards, 62 in the second half.

Brett Hayes scored on a 68-yard punt return with 3:41 left to play, bringing Notre Dame within a touchdown.