A DIFFERENT ENDING FOR ANTELOPE VALLEY? : DOMINGUEZ AT ANTELOPE VALLEY, 7:30 P.M.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Daily News Staff Writer

Jason Thomas on 1-1/2 legs is the equal of most mortals on two.

At least, that was the assessment of Antelope Valley High coach Brent Newcomb after he reviewed game tapes of the Dominguez quarterback's performance last Friday.

Newcomb will get another look at Thomas and the Dons in tonight's Southern Section Division II quarterfinal game at the Antelopes' Mays Field.

Thomas and Dominguez have made life miserable for Antelope Valley in three games over the past 13 months. Dominguez ended the Antelopes' season a year ago and is favored to do the same tonight.

Antelope Valley (7-3) will get to face Thomas when the quarterback is less than 100 percent. On Oct. 3, the quarterback broke his left ankle on the same turf he'll run on tonight. But Newcomb doesn't anticipate any particular advantage in that.

``He's one of the most impressive athletes I've ever seen in my years of coaching,'' Newcomb said of Thomas, who has made an oral commitment to USC.

While the Dons (10-1) have stars such as Thomas and senior running back Willie Hurst (also banged up but expected to play), the Antelopes will field several solid if unspectacular contributors.

While there are no Tommie Smiths, Jermaine Lewises or Tony Walkers to offset Thomas, the Antelopes get the football to the hot runner. Quarterback Justin Mobley has gained 530 yards (6.16 per carry), while the running back work has been spread between Andrew Campbell (435 yards, 6.30 per carry), Bruce Molock (417, 8.87), Nakia Manick (228, 6.51), Jermaine Norman (227, 8.75) and Mentu Daniel (138, 4.05).

``We don't have Tony Walker or Jermaine Lewis back there,'' Newcomb said. ``But I think they'll all be in there in the backfield. We like Bruce because he goes 100 mph at all times. They're all different styles of backs.''

The job of stopping Antelope Valley's running back by committee is probably just as complicated as the Antelopes' blueprints for defending Thomas and Hurst. ``You don't know who to prepare for,'' said Dominguez defensive backs coach Sean Fernandez.