AS SPECIAL TEAMS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE, SO DOES PALMDALE.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne Staff Writer

Palmdale graduated key players from last season's Golden League champion team, most notably league MVP Kwincy Edwards and standout linebacker Jerry Milling.

But one player whose importance might have been overlooked was kicker/punter Ben Royce, a first-team Daily News All-Area selection as a junior in 2003 and honorable mention last season.

Without Royce handling the kicking and punting, special teams has become an area of concern for Palmdale. Most of the time, the Falcons squib the opening kickoff, rotate punting duties between four different players and cross their fingers on extra-point attempts.

Sophomore running back Ronald Scott converted the Falcons' first successful extra-point attempt in Palmdale's 34-7 loss to Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks on Friday.

In the same game, senior Kamar Jackson tried his hand at punting and got off kicks of 21, 20, minus-2 and 25 yards. So far, running back Dominic Blood has had the most success, with six punts for 225 yards (35.7-yard average).

On the other side of the ball, in punt and kick returns, Palmdale is still the most dangerous team in the league, with Blood and fellow senior Tyreace House handling most kicks.

Neither one had much of an opportunity Friday, as Notre Dame senior kicker Kai Forbath put all seven of his kickoffs into the end zone and all but one punt inside the 20-yard line.

House was visibly frustrated after one of Forbath's kickoffs, which he caught with one foot on the goal line and tried to return before officials ruled it was a touchback.

--Recruiting update: Antelope Valley senior linebacker Allan Mohan attended USC's game against Arkansas on Sept. 17 at the invitation of the Trojans' coaching staff.

``It's awesome,'' Mohan said of the atmosphere down on the field at the Coliseum. ``The whole stadium is super-packed. ... I can't wait to get a chance for (the college football experience), but I don't want to go too fast, I want to enjoy my senior year.''

Mohan said he also gets regular calls from Boise State, Idaho State, Oregon, Washington and UC Davis. He said USC linebackers coach Nick Seto regularly calls him.

Mohan's teammate D'Andre Goodwin is also receiving a lot of recruiting interest, but said colleges aren't sure whether they want him as a defensive back or a receiver.

Goodwin said he regularly gets calls or letters from Boise State, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Michigan State, Oregon State and Washington State.

--Injury update: Knight High junior linebacker John Reynolds, who was taken off the field by ambulance in Friday's 41-0 loss to Boron, is OK, according to Hawks coach Jim Bauer, but will be out indefinitely.

The Hawks also got good news on standout junior linebacker Dar'veon Morris (shoulder). Bauer said Morris is out only until Wednesday.

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com