HS Football Player of the Year: It's Nathaniel's house
By ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
Dec. 26, 2015
PALMDALE - The game's final seconds ticked down as Nathaniel Myles found himself running full speed toward Eastside's edge of the end zone as a pack of Lions chased after him during a slow-motion moment on Oct. 2
A sizable Golden League win streak - and the league title, as it turns out - depended on Myles crossing that pylon.
"In crucial situations, we had some games that we probably should have lost," Palmdale head coach Jeff Williams said. "Had it not been for (Myles) taking the team on his shoulders and saying, 'Hey, this is the direction we're going to go.'"
Once Myles' arm reached into the end zone as seemingly all of Eastside lunged at the Palmdale quarterback, it completed one of the most epic rallies the Antelope Valley had seen all year.
With Myles leading the way, the Falcons beat Eastside en route to a 10-0 regular season and extended their league winning streak to 32 games.
Perfection wasn't easy, but Myles' big-time performances helped make it possible and ultimately earned the quarterback the 2015 Valley Press Large School Football Player of the Year award.
Along the way he also earned the praise of teammates and opponents alike.
"I had a guy spying (Myles) and the guy just willed his team to victory that night," Eastside head coach Richard Lear said recalling the game. "As an opposing coach, there's no game plan for a quarterback that's scrambling. It's just him deciding to take the team on his back and make plays when the game mattered the most.
"That's a special player right there."
During a memorable 2015 season, Myles, who also played defensive back and returned punts, did it all. In 12 games, he passed for 882 yards and 10 touchdowns, rushed for 585 yards and four scores and also intercepted four passes.
The stat that mattered most in the end, however, was victories. Palmdale won 11 games and only lost once, in the second round of the CIF-SS Northern Division playoffs.
"To be the player of the year of all Valley Press is just like, man, out of all these kids out here that work their butt off just like me, and I just stood out the most," Myles said. "I just give thanks to God and I just thank him so much for letting me stand out the most."
Added Williams: "(Myles) is one of those kids you just couldn't keep off the field. He played offense, defense and special teams for us. He''s very resilient and understands how the game is supposed to work."
Many of Myles' peers had him and the Falcons circled on their calendars before the year started, but none could defeat him. Although a few came within inches of accomplishing it.
Weeks before Eastside held a 12-point lead over Palmdale with 2:43 to go in the fourth quarter, the Falcons trailed late against Foothill League powerhouse Valencia and also against Valley Mission League champion Sylmar.
Myles would not let Palmdale lose.
"There were only two teams I was focused on beating in preseason, Sylmar and Valencia," Myles said. "When we overcame those two I was like, "OK, my team wants it.'"
After leading drives for two late TDs against the Lions during the second game of league play, including the game-winning 2-yard rushing TD with three seconds left in the game, Myles had seemingly overcome it all.
But after four easy league wins, Myles had to face the ultimate test, a final game at the home of the high-powered and also-undefeated Antelopes.
The winner would take the Golden League crown.
"The AV game, that's a game that I'll remember forever," Myles said.
The memorability of that Nov. 6 game lied in how emphatically the Falcons dismantled the up-and-coming Antelopes, 35-14, to win their fourth straight league championship.
Myles ran for 90 yards, threw a 42-yard touchdown pass and got the game-ending interception against AV right before joining his teammates in celebration for yet another year of dominance.
"It was pretty sweet to me because since I've been in high school I've never lost a game out here in the AV," Myles said. "So I knew that I didn't want to lose a game. I wanted to be one of them people that never lost a game to any teams out here."
Putting the team on his shoulders, he never did. And although he was unable to bring Palmdale the CIF championship that it's eluded it for so long, Myles made sure 2015 will be a year to remember.
As far as he future goes, Myles said he's getting looks from Division I schools such as Arizona, Colorado, San Jose, Fresno State, San Diego State, Washington, UNLV and Nevada.
A move to Nevada would reunite Myles with former teammate and 2014 Valley Press Large School Football Player of the Year Dameon Baber, but wherever he goes, those who know him expect Myles to be successful.
"I think he's made a big impact," Williams said. "I look at him, he's been a big company guy. You look at guys who've moved on, they've been company guys.
They've been Palmdale guys. He's no less one of those guys.
"I look forward to a bright future in that young man's life as he continues on with his football and academic career."
Dec. 26, 2015
PALMDALE - The game's final seconds ticked down as Nathaniel Myles found himself running full speed toward Eastside's edge of the end zone as a pack of Lions chased after him during a slow-motion moment on Oct. 2
A sizable Golden League win streak - and the league title, as it turns out - depended on Myles crossing that pylon.
"In crucial situations, we had some games that we probably should have lost," Palmdale head coach Jeff Williams said. "Had it not been for (Myles) taking the team on his shoulders and saying, 'Hey, this is the direction we're going to go.'"
Once Myles' arm reached into the end zone as seemingly all of Eastside lunged at the Palmdale quarterback, it completed one of the most epic rallies the Antelope Valley had seen all year.
With Myles leading the way, the Falcons beat Eastside en route to a 10-0 regular season and extended their league winning streak to 32 games.
Perfection wasn't easy, but Myles' big-time performances helped make it possible and ultimately earned the quarterback the 2015 Valley Press Large School Football Player of the Year award.
Along the way he also earned the praise of teammates and opponents alike.
"I had a guy spying (Myles) and the guy just willed his team to victory that night," Eastside head coach Richard Lear said recalling the game. "As an opposing coach, there's no game plan for a quarterback that's scrambling. It's just him deciding to take the team on his back and make plays when the game mattered the most.
"That's a special player right there."
During a memorable 2015 season, Myles, who also played defensive back and returned punts, did it all. In 12 games, he passed for 882 yards and 10 touchdowns, rushed for 585 yards and four scores and also intercepted four passes.
The stat that mattered most in the end, however, was victories. Palmdale won 11 games and only lost once, in the second round of the CIF-SS Northern Division playoffs.
"To be the player of the year of all Valley Press is just like, man, out of all these kids out here that work their butt off just like me, and I just stood out the most," Myles said. "I just give thanks to God and I just thank him so much for letting me stand out the most."
Added Williams: "(Myles) is one of those kids you just couldn't keep off the field. He played offense, defense and special teams for us. He''s very resilient and understands how the game is supposed to work."
Many of Myles' peers had him and the Falcons circled on their calendars before the year started, but none could defeat him. Although a few came within inches of accomplishing it.
Weeks before Eastside held a 12-point lead over Palmdale with 2:43 to go in the fourth quarter, the Falcons trailed late against Foothill League powerhouse Valencia and also against Valley Mission League champion Sylmar.
Myles would not let Palmdale lose.
"There were only two teams I was focused on beating in preseason, Sylmar and Valencia," Myles said. "When we overcame those two I was like, "OK, my team wants it.'"
After leading drives for two late TDs against the Lions during the second game of league play, including the game-winning 2-yard rushing TD with three seconds left in the game, Myles had seemingly overcome it all.
But after four easy league wins, Myles had to face the ultimate test, a final game at the home of the high-powered and also-undefeated Antelopes.
The winner would take the Golden League crown.
"The AV game, that's a game that I'll remember forever," Myles said.
The memorability of that Nov. 6 game lied in how emphatically the Falcons dismantled the up-and-coming Antelopes, 35-14, to win their fourth straight league championship.
Myles ran for 90 yards, threw a 42-yard touchdown pass and got the game-ending interception against AV right before joining his teammates in celebration for yet another year of dominance.
"It was pretty sweet to me because since I've been in high school I've never lost a game out here in the AV," Myles said. "So I knew that I didn't want to lose a game. I wanted to be one of them people that never lost a game to any teams out here."
Putting the team on his shoulders, he never did. And although he was unable to bring Palmdale the CIF championship that it's eluded it for so long, Myles made sure 2015 will be a year to remember.
As far as he future goes, Myles said he's getting looks from Division I schools such as Arizona, Colorado, San Jose, Fresno State, San Diego State, Washington, UNLV and Nevada.
A move to Nevada would reunite Myles with former teammate and 2014 Valley Press Large School Football Player of the Year Dameon Baber, but wherever he goes, those who know him expect Myles to be successful.
"I think he's made a big impact," Williams said. "I look at him, he's been a big company guy. You look at guys who've moved on, they've been company guys.
They've been Palmdale guys. He's no less one of those guys.
"I look forward to a bright future in that young man's life as he continues on with his football and academic career."