HS Football: Palmdale, AV meet in game worth a league championship
By ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
Nov. 6, 2015
LANCASTER - A rivalry, a streak, a Golden League championship and - last but not least - perfection.
All of that is on the line tonight at 7 at Antelope Valley High, where the high-octane Antelopes welcome the three-time defending league champion Palmdale.
And so much more.
"For us, it's everything," Falcons running back Richard Newton said.
That feeling is echoed and enhanced by Antelope Valley (7-2, 6-0 GL), one of seven GL schools that's lived in the shadows of the Falcons (9-0, 6-0) for the past three years.
"It's bigger than the game right now," AV quarterback Morrell Osling III said. "We're playing for our school. It's not just for us."
In front of their home fans on the final day of the regular season, all the Antelopes will be trying to do is take down a 9-0 team ranked No. 4 in the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division that's riding a 31-game win streak in GL play and whom they haven't beat since 2005, the last year AV won a league title.
The prize is the Golden League crown, an accolade Palmdale has immaculately plowed its way to in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
"We've worked hard to get to this moment," Osling said.
Just how historic of a matchup is this? Even after 26 seasons at Palmdale, Jeff Williams struggled to remember the last time he was part of a Week 10 showdown in which both teams were undefeated in league play.
The game being at Antelope Valley 10 years after the Antelopes last defeated the Falcons only adds hype to a game that carries an overabundance of it.
"It's good for the Valley," Williams said. "It's good for the league."
Led by Osling, the Antelopes have made a strong case as the best team in said league.
The junior has passed for a league-leading 2,005 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 477 yards and three TDs as AV has won every GL game by at least three scores.
That included a 21-3 win last week in the "Backyard Bowl" at Eastside, a team Palmdale barely escaped during a come-from-behind 26-25 victory on Oct. 2.
It was one of many late-game comebacks for the Falcons, who've made their never-say-die attitude the mantra of their season.
"We didn't succumb to that," said Williams, recalling a game in which his team was down 25-13 with five minutes left. "We overcame that and that's what's going to help us in this type of game."
Palmdale senior quarterback Nathaniel Myles led that rally against the Lions. Tonight, in the last regular-season game of his life, Myles faces perhaps his greatest test: keeping multiple streaks alive.
Myles, who's passed for 594 yards and 17 TDs and rushed for 436 yards and two TDs, welcomes the challenge.
"We couldn't ask for nothing better," Myles said. "Undefeated vs. undefeated. That's what people look for."
Helping the cause for Palmdale will be Newton, who's rushed for 404 yards and nine TDs, and running back Jordan Bowden, who's run for 489 yards and 10 TDs.
For the Antelopes, running back Jamani Liggins has rushed for 491 yards and six TDs and senior Ty'Rayl Martin has 803 receiving yards and eight touchdowns and 404 rushing yards and three scores.
With an array of weapons on both sidelines, there's potential for a title-deciding shootout, although both teams instead will be looking to slow down their opponent.
Williams used the Denver Broncos defense against the Packers on Sunday as an example to describe what his defense will be trying to do to Osling tonight.
If the Palmdale coach has his way, the AV quarterback will have an Aaron Rodgers-like performance tonight, meaning not very good.
"(Rodgers) lost my (fantasy football matchup) last week," Williams said laughing. "Throw that out the window. It's going to be one of those games."
Rodgers and Osling are in different worlds, but the junior quarterback means that much to the Antelopes, who haven't been in this pressure-packed position in a decade.
The Falcons have been in this situation before several times. They know everyone would love to see the king fall. They know they are getting everyone's best shot.
Can they withstand this one and keep their rule going?
"We've put in our work, we've put in our time," Williams said. "Our kids are prepared. Let it fall where it may."
In a clash too evenly matched to call anyone the favorite, it's the perfect situation to decide a champion among two teams seeking just that: perfection.
And so much more.
"Oh, man, I don't think you can write a better script for the Antelope Valley," AV head coach Ron Wilson said. "Some great football, I think both teams are going to go all out."
Nov. 6, 2015
LANCASTER - A rivalry, a streak, a Golden League championship and - last but not least - perfection.
All of that is on the line tonight at 7 at Antelope Valley High, where the high-octane Antelopes welcome the three-time defending league champion Palmdale.
And so much more.
"For us, it's everything," Falcons running back Richard Newton said.
That feeling is echoed and enhanced by Antelope Valley (7-2, 6-0 GL), one of seven GL schools that's lived in the shadows of the Falcons (9-0, 6-0) for the past three years.
"It's bigger than the game right now," AV quarterback Morrell Osling III said. "We're playing for our school. It's not just for us."
In front of their home fans on the final day of the regular season, all the Antelopes will be trying to do is take down a 9-0 team ranked No. 4 in the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division that's riding a 31-game win streak in GL play and whom they haven't beat since 2005, the last year AV won a league title.
The prize is the Golden League crown, an accolade Palmdale has immaculately plowed its way to in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
"We've worked hard to get to this moment," Osling said.
Just how historic of a matchup is this? Even after 26 seasons at Palmdale, Jeff Williams struggled to remember the last time he was part of a Week 10 showdown in which both teams were undefeated in league play.
The game being at Antelope Valley 10 years after the Antelopes last defeated the Falcons only adds hype to a game that carries an overabundance of it.
"It's good for the Valley," Williams said. "It's good for the league."
Led by Osling, the Antelopes have made a strong case as the best team in said league.
The junior has passed for a league-leading 2,005 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 477 yards and three TDs as AV has won every GL game by at least three scores.
That included a 21-3 win last week in the "Backyard Bowl" at Eastside, a team Palmdale barely escaped during a come-from-behind 26-25 victory on Oct. 2.
It was one of many late-game comebacks for the Falcons, who've made their never-say-die attitude the mantra of their season.
"We didn't succumb to that," said Williams, recalling a game in which his team was down 25-13 with five minutes left. "We overcame that and that's what's going to help us in this type of game."
Palmdale senior quarterback Nathaniel Myles led that rally against the Lions. Tonight, in the last regular-season game of his life, Myles faces perhaps his greatest test: keeping multiple streaks alive.
Myles, who's passed for 594 yards and 17 TDs and rushed for 436 yards and two TDs, welcomes the challenge.
"We couldn't ask for nothing better," Myles said. "Undefeated vs. undefeated. That's what people look for."
Helping the cause for Palmdale will be Newton, who's rushed for 404 yards and nine TDs, and running back Jordan Bowden, who's run for 489 yards and 10 TDs.
For the Antelopes, running back Jamani Liggins has rushed for 491 yards and six TDs and senior Ty'Rayl Martin has 803 receiving yards and eight touchdowns and 404 rushing yards and three scores.
With an array of weapons on both sidelines, there's potential for a title-deciding shootout, although both teams instead will be looking to slow down their opponent.
Williams used the Denver Broncos defense against the Packers on Sunday as an example to describe what his defense will be trying to do to Osling tonight.
If the Palmdale coach has his way, the AV quarterback will have an Aaron Rodgers-like performance tonight, meaning not very good.
"(Rodgers) lost my (fantasy football matchup) last week," Williams said laughing. "Throw that out the window. It's going to be one of those games."
Rodgers and Osling are in different worlds, but the junior quarterback means that much to the Antelopes, who haven't been in this pressure-packed position in a decade.
The Falcons have been in this situation before several times. They know everyone would love to see the king fall. They know they are getting everyone's best shot.
Can they withstand this one and keep their rule going?
"We've put in our work, we've put in our time," Williams said. "Our kids are prepared. Let it fall where it may."
In a clash too evenly matched to call anyone the favorite, it's the perfect situation to decide a champion among two teams seeking just that: perfection.
And so much more.
"Oh, man, I don't think you can write a better script for the Antelope Valley," AV head coach Ron Wilson said. "Some great football, I think both teams are going to go all out."