HS Football: Quartz Hill, Highland renew rivalry
By ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
Oct. 16, 2015
PALMDALE — Someone's been on Quartz Hill running back Manny Thomas' mind all week.
It's not exactly a special someone, although the junior has been feeling butterflies of sorts since Monday.
"It's hard to sleep, it's hard to eat," he said. "Because all I think about is Highland right now.
"I wish every day it could be Friday already so I can just go out there and show them what I can do."
In a no-love-lost rivalry game between Highland and Quartz Hill tonight, the feeling is reciprocated by the Bulldogs (1-5, 1-2 GL), who'll be looking to snap a four-game losing streak to the Rebels (2-4, 1-2).
"Whether both teams are 7-0 or 0-7, this game is going to look like a championship game every time," Highland head coach David Stowe said.
Both teams enter tonight's game in similar conditions: far from undefeated, but with a lot to feel positive about.
Quartz Hill recorded its first on-the-field victory last week at Littlerock, where the Rebels allowed no rushing yards to the Lobos in a 35-7 win.
Meanwhile the Bulldogs, who played a brutal preseason schedule, got their lone win of the season two weeks ago in a 39-0 blanking of Lancaster before falling against undefeated Palmdale last week.
"We've played against some seriously tough teams," Stowe said.
It doesn't get a whole lot easier against Quartz Hill. The Rebels have the Bulldogs' number, although not by much.
Of the past six matchups, five have been decided by five points or less. That includes two overtime games.
"Last year we won on the last drive of the game, the year before it was overtime," Quartz Hill head coach James Vondra said. "The year before it was double overtime or something, so it's been close for the last seven or eight years."
But the Bulldogs haven't had much to show for it over the last four seasons. Last year, Quartz Hill drove a stake through Highland's heart with a 17-12 comeback win, its second such victory in a row in the series.
"Last year we had it, too, and we shot ourselves in the foot and they beat us on our mistakes," Stowe said.
It's a problem Stowe admitted his team is still having this season. The hope for the Bulldogs is they'll be able to limit their mistakes tonight in front of their home crowd and run the football with efficacy.
Ke'maje Tippin leads the Highland backfield with 467 rushing yards and six touchdowns, followed by Brandon Edwards with 334 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Quarterback Alec Flores has only been able to complete 17 of 47 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown (to Edwards) while throwing five interceptions in six games, numbers Stowe will look to steer in the right direction over the next four games.
"We are a throwing team, believe it or not," Stowe said. "Once we establish the run the way we're supposed to, we are going to be able to throw the ball a little more."
The Rebels have found a little more success in the air, with sophomore quarterback Matthew Tago throwing for 539 yards with five TDs and five interceptions in four games, but the focus of the offense has been Thomas.
Through six games, Thomas has carried the ball 101 times for 447 yards and five touchdowns. A lot of that production came last week against the Lobos as the junior racked up 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
Against the rival Bulldogs, he's looking for a similar game.
"I want to be able to run the ball just how I ran against Littlerock," Thomas said.
Tago and wide receiver Emari Smith (22 receptions, 243 yards, two touchdowns) will look to help Thomas in the search for a second Golden League win. With Palmdale, Eastside, Antelope Valley and Knight all ahead in the standings, it's a must-win situation for both teams if they hope to make the playoffs.
"If you got three losses you're pretty much eliminated," Vondra said.
If nothing else, it's a must-win simply because of who the rival of turn is. There's no hatred between these teams, they just really want to beat each other.
Some more than others.
"I've been waiting," Thomas said.
Oct. 16, 2015
PALMDALE — Someone's been on Quartz Hill running back Manny Thomas' mind all week.
It's not exactly a special someone, although the junior has been feeling butterflies of sorts since Monday.
"It's hard to sleep, it's hard to eat," he said. "Because all I think about is Highland right now.
"I wish every day it could be Friday already so I can just go out there and show them what I can do."
In a no-love-lost rivalry game between Highland and Quartz Hill tonight, the feeling is reciprocated by the Bulldogs (1-5, 1-2 GL), who'll be looking to snap a four-game losing streak to the Rebels (2-4, 1-2).
"Whether both teams are 7-0 or 0-7, this game is going to look like a championship game every time," Highland head coach David Stowe said.
Both teams enter tonight's game in similar conditions: far from undefeated, but with a lot to feel positive about.
Quartz Hill recorded its first on-the-field victory last week at Littlerock, where the Rebels allowed no rushing yards to the Lobos in a 35-7 win.
Meanwhile the Bulldogs, who played a brutal preseason schedule, got their lone win of the season two weeks ago in a 39-0 blanking of Lancaster before falling against undefeated Palmdale last week.
"We've played against some seriously tough teams," Stowe said.
It doesn't get a whole lot easier against Quartz Hill. The Rebels have the Bulldogs' number, although not by much.
Of the past six matchups, five have been decided by five points or less. That includes two overtime games.
"Last year we won on the last drive of the game, the year before it was overtime," Quartz Hill head coach James Vondra said. "The year before it was double overtime or something, so it's been close for the last seven or eight years."
But the Bulldogs haven't had much to show for it over the last four seasons. Last year, Quartz Hill drove a stake through Highland's heart with a 17-12 comeback win, its second such victory in a row in the series.
"Last year we had it, too, and we shot ourselves in the foot and they beat us on our mistakes," Stowe said.
It's a problem Stowe admitted his team is still having this season. The hope for the Bulldogs is they'll be able to limit their mistakes tonight in front of their home crowd and run the football with efficacy.
Ke'maje Tippin leads the Highland backfield with 467 rushing yards and six touchdowns, followed by Brandon Edwards with 334 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Quarterback Alec Flores has only been able to complete 17 of 47 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown (to Edwards) while throwing five interceptions in six games, numbers Stowe will look to steer in the right direction over the next four games.
"We are a throwing team, believe it or not," Stowe said. "Once we establish the run the way we're supposed to, we are going to be able to throw the ball a little more."
The Rebels have found a little more success in the air, with sophomore quarterback Matthew Tago throwing for 539 yards with five TDs and five interceptions in four games, but the focus of the offense has been Thomas.
Through six games, Thomas has carried the ball 101 times for 447 yards and five touchdowns. A lot of that production came last week against the Lobos as the junior racked up 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
Against the rival Bulldogs, he's looking for a similar game.
"I want to be able to run the ball just how I ran against Littlerock," Thomas said.
Tago and wide receiver Emari Smith (22 receptions, 243 yards, two touchdowns) will look to help Thomas in the search for a second Golden League win. With Palmdale, Eastside, Antelope Valley and Knight all ahead in the standings, it's a must-win situation for both teams if they hope to make the playoffs.
"If you got three losses you're pretty much eliminated," Vondra said.
If nothing else, it's a must-win simply because of who the rival of turn is. There's no hatred between these teams, they just really want to beat each other.
Some more than others.
"I've been waiting," Thomas said.