FOOTBALL: DESERT MAKES MOST OF OPPORTUNITY AT-LARGE TEAM WINS FIRST-ROUND GAME.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Special to the Daily News

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - Desert High is playing with house money, and the Scorpions aren't completely comfortable with the way they got it.

Nevertheless, they are determined to play for all it is worth.

After finishing fourth in High Desert League play, Desert claimed a Southern Section Div. XII playoff at-large berth on the recommendation of third-place Mojave, which withdrew from playoffs after threats of gang violence forced the cancellation of a Nov. 4 league game against Frazier Mountain of Lebec and a subsequent arson incident at the school gym.

The Scorpions (4-7), in the playoffs for the first time since playing in the 2002 Div. XII championship game, defeated Lucerne Valley 12-3 in a first-round playoff game Friday.

Desert coach Chris Hinton said his players feel bad for regional rival Mojave, which defeated his team 28-14 in a regular-season finale to clinch an apparent playoff berth.

``It's not a matter of how they got in, it's what they do when they're there that matters and that's what we're focusing on,'' Hinton said. ``It's unfortunate for Mojave, but our kids are excited about the opportunity.''

Hinton said that excitement showed in the Lucerne Valley game.

``They could have taken this as a vacation, but we got in and played really hard,'' Hinton said.

--Familiar foe: Desert plays host to Ontario Christian (9-2) in Friday's quarterfinal in a rematch of the 2002 championship game, which Ontario Christian won 27-19.

Desert quarterback/defensive back Ryan Gava was a freshman on the 2002 team and appeared briefly in the title game at receiver. His older brother, Nick Gava, was the Scorpions' starting quarterback.

The 2002 title game was a blue-chip prospect showcase featuring Desert receiver Rudy Burgess and Ontario Christian running back Drew Robinson, who went to Arizona State and Nevada-Reno, respectively.

``We don't have the star power we did then, and neither do they,'' said Hinton, who was Desert's defensive coordinator that year. ``It's a team effort for us as it is for them.''

--Pass-happy: Rosamond (9-2), which defeated Desert Christian 35-0 Friday to advance to the quarterfinals, plays host to an L.A. Baptist of North Hills (6-3-1) team on Friday that passes more than anyone the Roadrunners have seen.

The Knights threw the ball on 36 percent of their 476 offensive plays and gained nearly half of their yards (1,200 of 2,431) via the pass.

It is an entirely different look than the Roadrunners are accustomed to in the High Desert, where passing teams are scarce.

``It is a concern because we're not used to it,'' Rosamond coach Kevin Rizer said.

Rizer said he's working with defensive backs and linebacker on ``playing honest'' in practices this week, trying to get them to read the plays before filling holes against the run.

--Vulnerability? Vasquez coach Doug Odum acknowledged Friday's Div. XII quarterfinal against No. 1 seeded Aquinas of San Bernardino (10-1) is a formidable challenge.

But he believes Aquinas' vulnerability to the pass, something he saw in watching film of its 34-0 first-round victory over Kern Valley of Lake Isabella is something the Mustangs might be able to exploit.

Vasquez plays host to Aquinas on Friday at 7:30.

``We saw Kern Valley throw on them and they threw rather well, so we plan to do same thing,'' Odum said.

Vasquez rallied from an early 13-point deficit in Friday's first-round 21-13 victory over Salesian Los Angeles. The Mustangs, who didn't run an offensive play in the first quarter, held their opponent without a first down in the second half.

Vasquez quarterback Joe Perez, who sat out the Mustangs' regular-season finale (a 17-7 loss to Rio Hondo of Arcadia) due to a suspension, was instrumental in leading the comeback.

``It was like night and day,'' Odum said of having Perez back.

Gideon Rubin, [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com