FEATURE PRESENTATION: TAKIN' THE A-TRAIN PALMDALE'S JENKINS HAS THE RIGHT PEDIGREE.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 PALMDALE - Johnna Jenkins can't pinpoint the moment her son Adrian decided he'd like to become a running back, but she has a fairly good guess. When Adrian Jenkins was a young boy, Johnna would drive with him to Berkeley to watch her nephew NEPHEW, dom. rel. The son of a person's brother or sister. Amb. 514; 1 Jacob's Ch. R. 207. play football for California. Before that, the Jenkinses had driven to watch her nephew play at Crespi High of Encino. ng Adrian would go into the locker Things commonly known as lockers include:
His cousin, her nephew, is Russell White, one of the most accomplished high school and college running backs in state history. White rushed for 5,998 yards at Crespi, then a state record and now fourth in area history. This fall, White was inducted into the UC Berkeley Athletic Hall of Fame and is the school's career rushing leader. ``Adrian was raised around football,'' Johnna Jenkins said. ``So it's no surprise he's following in his cousin's footsteps.'' And Jenkins certainly bears a certain resemblance Resemblance may refer to:
``He's the big bruiser bruis·er n. Informal A large, heavyset man. bruiser Noun Informal a strong tough person, esp. a boxer or a bully Noun 1. , we call him the A-Train because if he hits you, he's going to knock you off the tracks,'' Palmdale receiver Justin Shaw said of Jenkins. Jenkins is 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds but has lowered his time in the 40- yard dash from 4.63 to 4.38. And he's having a big year as Palmdale's primary running back. ``He's been doing great, ... but it's too bad he won't break any of my records,'' White joked. ``I'll never forget the first time he told me he wanted to play running back. I'd always had visions of him playing d-line and being a Jevon Kearse-type athlete rushing the quarterback, but I guess coming to all those games to watch his cousin play has paid off.'' Jenkins said White played a key role in his development this summer, as he worked on his strength and speed to prepare for his senior season. ``He told me to get in the weight room and work hard at it,'' Jenkins said. ``I've improved my power clean from 225 to 250 and my bench from 210 to 255 and I feel a lot stronger.'' After sharing time with three other running backs the past two seasons, Jenkins rushed for 297 yards against Barstow in his first game as Palmdale's starting running back. And after the shoulder injury to quarterback JaVonte Holmes, Jenkins is shouldering an even bigger load for the Falcons on offense. ``He's been very consistent for us and that's helped because with a young quarterback, it's nice to have a big horse in the backfield,'' Palmdale coach Jeff Williams For the poker player, see . For the physician, see . For the astronaut, see . Jeff Williams (born June 6, 1972 in Canberra) is an Australian-born, left-handed pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers baseball team. said. ``Last year, it was running back by committee because we had three good running backs. But this year, he's come out from under that shadow and established himself as one of the best backs in the (Southern) Section.'' Through eight games, Jenkins has 871 yards and eight touchdowns for an average of 7.7 yards a carry, drawing recruiting attention from Utah and Washington State. In the past two weeks, in critical Golden League games against 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 and Highland, Jenkins rushed for more than 100 yards to lead the Falcons, who historically have run one of the area's more balanced offenses. ``It's a big change from past years at Palmdale but I guess that's been in my favor. Last year I was only getting four-five carries a game but we had three good running backs, and I knew that my time would come,'' Jenkins said. Holmes, a lifelong friend, was more effusive ef·fu·sive adj. 1. Unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression; gushy: an effusive manner. 2. Profuse; overflowing: effusive praise. in his praise of Jenkins. ``When I got hurt, a lot of the pressure fell on to him. But he's been waiting for this for two years. It's finally his shot to carry the ball and I think he's having a breakthrough year,'' Holmes said. Ramona Shelburne, (818) 713-3617 ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com THIS WEEK'S GAMES ANTELOPE VALLEY (5-3, 1-2) at QUARTZ HILL (4-4, 2-1), 7 p.m. Player to watch: Mychal Bogan, QB, Antelope Valley Bogan fumbled at the end of last week's 26-21 loss to Lancaster. How he responds could determine the outcome tonight. Key stat stat adv. With no delay. adj. Immediate. STAT Stat! Clinical medicine adverb Fast, quickly, immediately, schnell, vite Lab medicine noun : 1 The number of times Antelope Valley has scored more than 21 points in a game this season. Why Antelope Valley will win: The Antelopes of Lancaster haven't lost consecutive games since 2000 and have won 17 Golden League championships since 1971. Why Quartz Hill will win: Antelope antelope, name applied to a large number of hoofed, ruminant mammals of the cattle family (Bovidae), which also includes the sheep and goats. The North American pronghorn is sometimes called an antelope, but belongs to a separate, related family (Antilocapridae). Valley's vaunted vaunt v. vaunt·ed, vaunt·ing, vaunts v.tr. To speak boastfully of; brag about. v.intr. To speak boastfully; brag. See Synonyms at boast1. n. 1. defense, which entered Golden League play having allowed only five points a game, has given up 17 points a game in its three league games. With the emergence of senior RB Quinn Porter, who has six TDs in the past two games, Quartz Hill has had no trouble scoring. Last week: Antelope Valley lost to Lancaster 26-21; Quartz Hill defeated Littlerock 27-15. Perspective: Quartz Hill scored with about 5 minutes remaining to avoid a shutout last year in a 31-6 loss. But the Antelopes have lost three of their past five games and Quartz Hill has won three of its past four. Antelope Valley must win the next two weeks to make the playoffs. Outlook: With the exception of its loss to Highland in the Golden League opener, Quartz Hill has looked like a playoff-caliber team for the past month. But it's difficult to know how good the Rebels are because they haven't played Antelope Valley or Palmdale. LITTLEROCK (1-7, 0-3) at HIGHLAND (2-5-1, 1-2), 7 p.m. Player to watch: Blake Izabal, RB, Highland Izabal earned the starting RB job but has struggled the past two weeks, just as John Keith has excelled at RB. But Keith is out with a high-ankle sprain sprain, stretching or wrenching of the ligaments and tendons of a joint, often with rupture of the tissues but without dislocation. Sprains occur most commonly at the ankle, knee, or wrist joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty in moving the involved joint. , so Izabal should get the majority of the carries and will be key to the Bulldogs' running game. Key stat: 0 Field goals made by Highland and Littlerock this season. Why Littlerock will win: The Lobos were tied with Quartz Hill 7-7 until the fourth quarter and showed signs its offense could be a factor behind WR Frank Villanueva. Why Highland will win: Statistically, Highland is fifth of six Golden League teams in scoring (17.3 points/game) and with Keith questionable, the offense is in trouble. Any other team and Highland would be in trouble. But Littlerock has allowed 33.6 points a game in its three league games. Last week: Highland lost to Palmdale 10-6; Littlerock lost to Quartz Hill 27-15. Perspective: The Bulldogs of Palmdale must win the next two weeks for a chance at the playoffs. Littlerock's motivation is to gets its first league victory this season. The schools have two common opponents: Palmdale and Quartz Hill. Highland defeated Quartz Hill 28-6 and Littlerock lost to the Rebels 27-15. Both teams lost to Palmdale but Highland kept it close (10-6) and Littlerock was blown out (58-0). Outlook: Except for losses to Canyon and Paso Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
KILPATRICK (2-5, 0-1) vs. PARACLETE (4-4, 1-1) at Antelope Valley College Antelope Valley College is a comprehensive community college located in Lancaster, California, USA. It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District, with a primary service area of 1,945 square miles covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties. 7:30 p.m. Outlook: Paraclete has struggled with consistency this season. Each time the Spirits of Lancaster have won a big game, they have 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. the next week. Two weeks ago, Paraclete rallied to beat Saint Monica 20-19 then lost 31-7 to Village Christian of Sun Valley. Last week, Paraclete rebounded with a 34-14 victory over Montclair Prep of Panorama City meaning the Spirits will have to guard against another letdown against Kilpatrick of Malibu. DESERT (2-6, 0-3) at FRAZIER MOUNTAIN Frazier Mountain is a mountain (or peak) that is located near Frazier Park, California and Lake of the Woods, California to the north. Frazier Mountain is 8,026 feet (2446 m) (3-5, 0-3) 7 p.m. Outlook: Frazier Mountain of Lebec has lost four consecutive games, including 39-0 to Rosamond last week. That game was played as snow fell and similar weather is predicted for this week. Desert of Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. has lost three in a row, including 21-6 to 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 last week. At 0-3 in the High Desert League, neither team is in position to make the playoffs. BISHOP (7-1, 3-0) at ROSAMOND (5-3, 2-1), 7 p.m. Outlook: If not for Rosamond's poor showing in its High Desert League opener against Mojave, this game would be for the outright league title. Bishop clinches clinches see clenches. the title with a victory the next two weeks. MOJAVE (3-5, 2-1) at KERN 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. (4-4, 2-1), 7 p.m. Outlook: Three teams are tied for second place in the High Desert League at 2-1 with two meeting tonight. The loser (jargon) loser - An unexpectedly bad situation, program, programmer, or person. Someone who habitually loses. (Even winners can lose occasionally). Someone who knows not and knows not that he knows not. of this game might be knocked out of 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. contention. SHERMAN INDIAN at VASQUEZ (5-3) Saturday, 1 p.m. Outlook: Div. XIII finalist Grace Brethren of Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. brought Vasquez down to earth last week with a 52-0 victory. But Vasquez is having its best season in school history. GAME OF THE WEEK: LANCASTER (4-4, 2-1) at No. 5 PALMDALE (7-1, 3-0), 7 p.m. Player to watch: Rodney Trimm, QB, Palmdale Lancaster showed it could shut down a powerful running game last week against A.V. and Palmdale has gone more to the run since JaVonte Holmes 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 Week 1. If Lancaster shuts down Palmdale's ground game, all of the pressure falls to the sophomore Trimm. Key stat: 6.6 The average number of points Palmdale's defense has allowed in three Golden League games. Why Lancaster will win: The Eagles are scoring 24.6 points a game in the Golden League and have been held to fewer than 10 points once - a 42-6 loss to No. 3 Canyon in the season opener. Palmdale's defense has been solid, which it will need to be against Lancaster, which averages 248.5 rushing yards a game. And that bodes well for the Eagles because rain is expected. Why Palmdale will win: Palmdale has the league's best receivers in Justin Shaw and T.J. McKay. Trimm has had trouble getting them the ball, but if Lancaster focuses on stopping Adrian Jenkins and Holmes, it will open the passing game. That's a dimension Antelope Valley didn't have last week. Last week: Palmdale defeated Highland 10-6; Lancaster defeated Antelope Valley 26-21. Perspective: Lancaster won only three games the past two seasons and hasn't made the playoffs since 2000. Palmdale advanced to the Div. III semifinals last season. But none of that will matter tonight. Lancaster is brimming brim n. 1. The rim or uppermost edge of a hollow container or natural basin. 2. A projecting rim or edge: the brim of a hat. 3. A border or an edge. See Synonyms at border. with confidence after its upset of A.V., putting the pressure on Palmdale. Outlook: The weather might play a big role. If it rains hard, both teams will have to keep the ball on the ground, which would be an advantage for Lancaster because it would take away the threat of Palmdale's passing game. Last week in the rain, Trimm tried only five passes. But Palmdale has found a way to win close games and its seniors want to 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. the Golden League title tonight. That should be enough to stop the upstart Eagles. CAPTION(S): photo, 3 boxes Photo: (color) Adrian Jenkins, cousin of area football legend Russell White, is having a big year as Palmdale's main running back. John Lazar/Staff Photographer Box: (1) THIS WEEK'S GAMES (see text) (2) GAME OF THE WEEK (see text) (3) GAME DAY |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion