HS Football: Highland snaps Quartz Hill's streak
By ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
Oct. 17, 2015
PALMDALE - The football was still in the air - representing the Rebels' last gasp at doing what they've been to the Bulldogs for the past four years - just as the scoreboard buzzer went off late Friday night at Highland High.
As the pass fell incomplete around the Bulldogs' 20-yard line, the coverage of the last-second play that preserved Highland's 27-24 Golden League win over Quartz Hill belonged not just to Bulldog defenders, but also to the student section that had rushed the field before Rebels quarterback Matthew Tago had even released his last-second prayer.
"I just looked over and I wasn't expecting that, " Highland coach David Stowe said of the student mob. "I saw people running and I was like, 'What are you doing? What are you doing?'"
After four consecutive years of heartbreak against Quartz Hill, Highland literally couldn't wait to celebrate a victory that felt like a championship.
Students hugged their football heroes, tears ran down players' faces, and coaches received ice showers following the Bulldogs' second win of the year.
"This is a big win, sir" said Highland running back Brandon Edwards, who ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns. "This might be the greatest win for us this season. "
Teammate Ke'maje Tippin rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown and Tai Williams turned his only rush attempt of the game into a 2-yard score that gave the Bulldogs (2-5, 2-2 GL) a 27-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Williams' touchdown capped a lengthy drive that started early in the third quarter and in which the Bulldogs didn't attempt a single pass.
"We were missing tackles," Quartz Hill head coach James Vondra said. "We knew what they were going to do, but we just didn't execute like we were supposed to."
Quartz Hill responded with a quick drive led by Tago, who punched the ball into the Highland end zone on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 8:11 to go in the game.
Highland followed with a three-and-out, but the Rebels were unable to get anything going offensively and punted the ball away. The Bulldogs then got a first down but nothing more and punted the ball back to Quartz Hill's 10-yard line with 1:18 to go.
Tago, who went 16-for-30 for 185 yards with a touchdown and an interception, completed a 22-yard fourth-down pass to Emari Smith (6 receptions, 74 yards) and another 22-yard strike to Cole Kelley to set his team up at the 45-yard line with 24 seconds to go.
At that point the ghost of past heartaches against the Rebels floated around the stadium.
"I was thinking, 'God please don't let this be a repeat,'" Stowe said.
It wouldn't be. Shortly after, Tago would be sacked and his Hail Mary attempt would fall short and in the midst of an avalanche of Bulldogs.
The Rebels, who were led on the ground by Manny Thomas' 88 yards, walked away in silence as their eternal rival partied just the way they did for the last few years.
"It's a big rivalry," Vondra said.
It showed from the very start when the Bulldogs had to rally. In one of the many instances in which a positive Highland play was erased by a flag, Tippin took a handoff 55 yards into Quartz Hill's end zone to make the student section erupt in elation late in the first quarter.
The play was called back by a holding penalty, but the very next handoff went to Edwards and he did the very same thing, albeit from 52 yards out, to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.
It was the second touchdown of the first quarter for Edwards, who tied the game at 7-7 with a 32-yard touchdown run at the 7:45 mark.
The Bulldogs would continue to shoot themselves in the foot, as a drive from their own 17 resulted in an Alec Flores' interception returned for a touchdown by
Quartz Hill's Nathan Fisette to tie the game at 14-14 early in the second quarter.
On the very next play from scrimmage for Highland, however, Tippin reeled off a 71-yard touchdown run to put his team ahead 20-14. This time there were no flags.
A 31-yard field goal from Quartz Hill kicker Jenner Livingston drew the Rebels within 20-17 at halftime.
It was all part of an unforgettable night for the Bulldogs. Finally.
"I have to admit our fans were becoming a little disappointed in us, but this is how you bring them back," Edwards said.
And on the field.
Oct. 17, 2015
PALMDALE - The football was still in the air - representing the Rebels' last gasp at doing what they've been to the Bulldogs for the past four years - just as the scoreboard buzzer went off late Friday night at Highland High.
As the pass fell incomplete around the Bulldogs' 20-yard line, the coverage of the last-second play that preserved Highland's 27-24 Golden League win over Quartz Hill belonged not just to Bulldog defenders, but also to the student section that had rushed the field before Rebels quarterback Matthew Tago had even released his last-second prayer.
"I just looked over and I wasn't expecting that, " Highland coach David Stowe said of the student mob. "I saw people running and I was like, 'What are you doing? What are you doing?'"
After four consecutive years of heartbreak against Quartz Hill, Highland literally couldn't wait to celebrate a victory that felt like a championship.
Students hugged their football heroes, tears ran down players' faces, and coaches received ice showers following the Bulldogs' second win of the year.
"This is a big win, sir" said Highland running back Brandon Edwards, who ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns. "This might be the greatest win for us this season. "
Teammate Ke'maje Tippin rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown and Tai Williams turned his only rush attempt of the game into a 2-yard score that gave the Bulldogs (2-5, 2-2 GL) a 27-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Williams' touchdown capped a lengthy drive that started early in the third quarter and in which the Bulldogs didn't attempt a single pass.
"We were missing tackles," Quartz Hill head coach James Vondra said. "We knew what they were going to do, but we just didn't execute like we were supposed to."
Quartz Hill responded with a quick drive led by Tago, who punched the ball into the Highland end zone on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 8:11 to go in the game.
Highland followed with a three-and-out, but the Rebels were unable to get anything going offensively and punted the ball away. The Bulldogs then got a first down but nothing more and punted the ball back to Quartz Hill's 10-yard line with 1:18 to go.
Tago, who went 16-for-30 for 185 yards with a touchdown and an interception, completed a 22-yard fourth-down pass to Emari Smith (6 receptions, 74 yards) and another 22-yard strike to Cole Kelley to set his team up at the 45-yard line with 24 seconds to go.
At that point the ghost of past heartaches against the Rebels floated around the stadium.
"I was thinking, 'God please don't let this be a repeat,'" Stowe said.
It wouldn't be. Shortly after, Tago would be sacked and his Hail Mary attempt would fall short and in the midst of an avalanche of Bulldogs.
The Rebels, who were led on the ground by Manny Thomas' 88 yards, walked away in silence as their eternal rival partied just the way they did for the last few years.
"It's a big rivalry," Vondra said.
It showed from the very start when the Bulldogs had to rally. In one of the many instances in which a positive Highland play was erased by a flag, Tippin took a handoff 55 yards into Quartz Hill's end zone to make the student section erupt in elation late in the first quarter.
The play was called back by a holding penalty, but the very next handoff went to Edwards and he did the very same thing, albeit from 52 yards out, to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.
It was the second touchdown of the first quarter for Edwards, who tied the game at 7-7 with a 32-yard touchdown run at the 7:45 mark.
The Bulldogs would continue to shoot themselves in the foot, as a drive from their own 17 resulted in an Alec Flores' interception returned for a touchdown by
Quartz Hill's Nathan Fisette to tie the game at 14-14 early in the second quarter.
On the very next play from scrimmage for Highland, however, Tippin reeled off a 71-yard touchdown run to put his team ahead 20-14. This time there were no flags.
A 31-yard field goal from Quartz Hill kicker Jenner Livingston drew the Rebels within 20-17 at halftime.
It was all part of an unforgettable night for the Bulldogs. Finally.
"I have to admit our fans were becoming a little disappointed in us, but this is how you bring them back," Edwards said.
And on the field.