A SHORT TIME ON THE RUN QUARTZ HILL RUNNING BACK MAKES MOST OF HIS FINAL YEAR.Byline: Ramona Shelburne Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. Staff Writer Shaun Jackson's varsity high school football career has been limited pretty much to one season, but what a season it has been. Jackson quickly has become essential to Quartz Hill's offense. That became obvious when the senior running back, who has rushed for 860 yards in nine games, was injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. in the first half of last week's game at Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley . With Jackson in the lineup, Quartz Hill is a powerful, grind-it-out running team. Without him, Quartz Hill struggled to move the ball and lost 27-0. One player doesn't make a team, but Jackson has been a big reason the Rebels are 6-3, their best record since 1995. ``Our offense pretty much relies on its running back, and Shaun has done a really good job there this year,'' fellow running back Sergio Molina said. Jackson will try to play tonight against Palmdale in what could be his final high school game. Quartz Hill's playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. chances took a big hit with the loss to Antelope Valley, and the Rebels need a win and an A.V. loss, or an at-large berth, to make the playoffs. Jackson isn't getting sentimental about that possibility yet. But he does wonder how his career might have been different had he played more than just this season. He played at Quartz Hill as a freshman, then transferred to Highland as a sophomore but played all but three games on the junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. . Jackson transferred back to Quartz Hill as a junior, but he was academically ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. to play. ``I really wish I could've played all four years,'' he said. ``I wonder how good I could've been if I had actually played my junior year. Things could've been a lot different.'' Give Jackson credit for coming back. Admittedly, he didn't work out much during his junior year. He lifted weights and played pick-up basketball. But when it came time for summer conditioning, he quickly realized how out of shape he was and wondered whether he was making a mistake in coming back. ``It was so hot, man. We'd be running and have to run into the bathroom and stick our heads under the sink to cool off,'' Jackson said. ``It was really hard at first.'' That's where Molina came in. The two have been friends since childhood, and Molina played a big role in getting Jackson to come out for football for his senior season. ``I just really wanted him to play,'' Molina said. ``I didn't care that we were both running backs. I wanted him to play.'' So Jackson stayed -- as much for himself, to see what he could do, or how good he could be, as for anyone else. After 860 yards, everyone else has found that out too. Jackson just hopes tonight isn't his last game. Ramona Shelburne, (818) 713-3617 ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com GAME OF THE WEEK QUARTZ HILL (6-3, 2-2) at No. 7 PALMDALE (7-2, 4-0), 7 p.m. Player to watch: Kwincy Edwards, DB, Palmdale. Edwards intercepted two passes last week against Lancaster and returned both for touchdowns, although one was called back because of a clipping (1) Cutting off the outer edges or boundaries of a word, signal or image. In rendering an image, clipping removes any objects or portions thereof that are not visible on screen. See scissoring. See also WCA. penalty. Quartz Hill likely will have to pass more, with RBs Shaun Jackson and Sergio Molina banged up, giving Edwards an opportunity to have another big game. Key stat stat adv. With no delay. adj. Immediate. STAT Stat! Clinical medicine adverb Fast, quickly, immediately, schnell, vite Lab medicine noun : 12 Palmdale penalties last week against Lancaster. The Falcons will need to cut down on flags if they want to make another deep playoff run. Why Quartz Hill will win: Because they have to, and Palmdale already has the league title wrapped up. The Rebels need a win tonight and an Antelope Valley loss to Littlerock to earn automatic qualification for the Div. III playoffs. Why Palmdale will win: Palmdale is feeling slighted by its No. 4 ranking in the Southern Section coaches and sportswriters poll and needs a win to improve its playoff seeding. A loss probably costs the Falcons a top-4 seeding. A win secures it and gives Palmdale a chance for a higher seed when the pairings are announced Sunday. Outlook: Quartz Hill is desperate for a win, but could lost and reach the playoffs if the committee awards it an at-large berth. Palmdale clinched its third consecutive Golden League title last week but can't afford a letdown letdown 1. the sudden flush of milk flow that occurs when the calf begins to suck or when milking commences in a properly prepared cow. Depends for its occurrence on the release of oxytocin from the pituitary gland in response to massage of the teats and udder. with playoff seedings coming out Sunday. Quartz Hill would have a better chance if Jackson and Molina didn't have to play hurt. MOJAVE (8-1, 4-0) at DESERT (3-6, 2-2), 7 p.m. Outlook: Mojave, ranked fourth in the Southern Section Div. XII poll, can clinch Clinch, river, c.300 mi (480 km) long, formed by the junction of two forks in SW Va., and flowing generally SW across E Tenn. to the Tennessee River at Kingston. its first High Desert League title since 1999 with a victory over its traditional rival. The Mustangs, who have outscored opponents 389-130 this season, are on a six-game win streak and have won 14 of their past 16 dating to last season. Desert, coming off a 10-2 league victory over Kern Kern, river, 155 mi (249 km) long, rising in the S Sierra Nevada Mts., E Calif., and flowing south, then southwest to a reservoir in the extreme southern part of the San Joaquin valley. The river has Isabella Dam as its chief facility. Valley of Lake Isabella Lake Isabella is a man-made earthen reservoir in Kern County, California that consists of a main and auxiliary dam. It was formed in 1953 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Kern River at the junction of its two forks at Whiskey Flat. , can tie Rosamond for third place in league with an upset win that likely would force a coin toss for a playoff berth. That, and the rivalry factor, surely will motivate the Scorpions, but they'll find it difficult to overcome Mojave's talent and athleticism. VASQUEZ (7-2) at RIO HONDO Rio Hondo may refer to:
Outlook: Freelance Vasquez needs to win to guarantee a playoff berth, although it would likely gain an at-large bid An at-large bid is a bid or berth in a sporting tournament granted by invitation, not right. This term is most commonly used in the United States to refer to berths that the NCAA grants in its annual Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, although at-large berths are regardless of the outcome of tonight's game. The Mustangs, ranked ninth in Div. XII, are coming off a thrilling 30-27 victory over Boron boron (bōr`ŏn) [New Gr. from borax], chemical element; symbol B; at. no. 5; at. wt. 10.81; m.p. about 2,300°C;; sublimation point about 2,550°C;; sp. gr. 2.3 at 25°C;; valence +3. , in which they tied the school record for regular-season wins. Rio Hondo, ranked fourth in Div. XIII, earlier clinched a Prep League title. PARACLETE (4-5, 2-1) at VALLEY CHRISTIAN of Cerritos (8-1, 3-0), at 7:30 p.m. Outlook: Defending Olympic League champion Paraclete gains a share of a title with an upset. The Spirits' chances will greatly depend on the status of several injured skilled-position starters. QB Cory James (separated shoulder  This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject.Please help recruit one or [ improve this article] yourself. See the talk page for details. ), WR Dominic Donato (separated shoulder) and RB Jonathan Lewis For the England international cricketer who plays for Gloucestershire, please see Jon Lewis and for the American football player, see Jonathan Lewis (football player). Jonathan James Benjamin Lewis (born 21 May 1970, Isleworth, Middlesex, England) is a former English cricketer. , who suffered a concussion concussion Period of nervous-function impairment that results from relatively mild brain injury, often with no bleeding in the cerebral cortex. It causes brief unconsciousness, followed by mental confusion and physical difficulties. in last week's 28-19 loss to Village Christian of Sun Valley, are questionable. Valley Christian is Christian I (krĭs`chən), 1426–81, king of Denmark (1448–81), Norway (1450–81), and Sweden (1457–64), count of Oldenburg, and founder of the Oldenburg dynasty of Danish kings. ranked No. 3 in Div. XI. KERN VALLEY of Lake Isabella (0-8, 0-4) at ROSAMOND (4-5, 2-2), 7 p.m. Outlook: Talented but inexperienced in·ex·pe·ri·ence n. 1. Lack of experience. 2. Lack of the knowledge gained from experience. in , Rosamond can clinch no worse than a share of third place in the High Desert League with a victory over Kern Valley. The young Roadrunners are led by junior RB Spencer Rodney (1,225 yards, 12 touchdowns on 248 carries) and junior TE/LB Eric Leon (25 receptions, 377 yards). Rosamond's inexperience Inexperience See also Innocence, Naïveté. Bowes, Major Edward (1874–1946) originator and master of ceremonies of the Amateur Hour on radio. [Am. showed in last week's 50-7 league loss to Bishop, but its talent makes it the favorite over winless Kern Valley. NO. 10 LANCASTER (7-2, 3-1) at HIGHLAND (2-7, 1-3), 7 p.m. Player to watch: Tim Ennis, QB, Lancaster. Starting QB Bobby Thomas likely will miss tonight's game with a concussion, giving Ennis his second start of the season. Ennis was 5 for 9 for 63 yards with one interception and one touchdown in his only other start this year, a 23-24 victory over Kilpatrick of Malibu. Key stat: 0 Games between Highland and Lancaster that have been decided by 10 points or less. Highland owns a 4-3 advantage in the series, and the closest game between them was a 21-10 Highland victory in 1997. Why Lancaster will win: The Eagles showed character rallying from a 22-0 deficit last week against Palmdale but couldn't overcome four turnovers and 12 penalties. Even if Thomas sits out, Lancaster will want to bounce back from last week's loss. Why Highland will win: The Bulldogs broke a seven-game losing streak with a 3-0 overtime win against Littlerock. That should give them confidence. And if Ennis struggles, Highland's defense will put pressure on him. Outlook: Lancaster isn't the same team without Thomas, but it is also much improved from Week 3, when Thomas was suspended for two unsportsmanlike penalties. Highland's defense has been good, but Lancaster may have too many weapons. LITTLEROCK (0-9, 0-4) at ANTELOPE VALLEY (3-5-1, 2-2), 7 p.m. Player to watch: Andre Crenshaw cren·shaw also cran·shaw n. A variety of winter melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus) having a greenish-yellow rind and sweet, usually salmon-pink flesh. [Origin unknown.] , RB, Antelope Valley. This season hasn't turned out as Crenshaw wanted. Since rushing for 278 yards and four touchdowns in Week 1, he's been slowed by an ankle injury - but he's played through it and been a team leader, keeping Antelope Valley in the playoff hunt. Key stat: 5 Combined margin of defeat in Littlerock's last two losses. The Lobos lost 21-19 to Quartz Hill and 3-0 to Highland. Why Littlerock will win: RB Chris Vargas continues to excel despite difficult circumstances, and coach Lin Parker would love to pull an upset to end the season on a high note. Why Antelope Valley will win: Despite early-season struggles, A.V. is in position to make the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year after last week's 27-0 victory over Quartz Hill. Another win improves A.V.'s reputation in the eyes of the selection committee. Outlook: Antelope Valley can clinch a playoff berth with a victory tonight, rendering the outcome of Quartz Hill-Palmdale moot An issue presenting no real controversy. Moot refers to a subject for academic argument. It is an abstract question that does not arise from existing facts or rights. . If A.V. is going to make a run in the playoffs, it needs to put back-to-back wins together for the first time this season. - Gideon Rubin contributed to this report CAPTION(S): photo, 3 boxes Photo: Running back Shaun Jackson has been key to Quartz Hill's success this season. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer Box: (1) GAME OF THE WEEK (see text) (2) FIRST AND 10 (3) INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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