PALMDALE MAKES EARLY STATEMENT PETERS, A.V. OFFENSE KEPT IN CHECK DESPITE LATE RALLY IN GOLDEN OPENER PALMDALE 17, A.V. 14.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne  Staff Writer

LANCASTER - There was a slight pause before Palmdale High players rushed onto the field to celebrate the team's 17-14 victory over Antelope Valley on Friday night. Just long enough for a sigh of relief.

After holding host Antelope Valley of Lancaster to 12 yards and only one first down in the first half, Palmdale (5-1) had to hold on in the second half as Antelope Valley's Aaron Wilson ran for a 6-yard touchdown and threw for a 41-yard score to help close the gap.

``At halftime, I felt and Kreig (Peters) felt the team wasn't focusing, we'd been goofing off in practice all week, and we really came down hard on them,'' said Wilson, who finished with 82 yards rushing, 77 in the second half. ``We came out with a whole different focus in the second half, and I feel if we would've played the same way the whole game, we would've won.''

The victory gave Palmdale, which has beaten Antelope Valley by a combined eight points the past two seasons, the inside track on the Golden League title even though it was the league opener.

Antelope Valley (4-2, 0-1) had a chance to take the lead with 2 minutes, 40 seconds remaining in the game, but Nate Thomas couldn't hold on to a fourth-down pass from Mychal Bogan that was high and behind him. That play killed a drive at the Palmdale 30-yard line, and the Falcons took over and ran out the clock.

Palmdale's Adrian Jenkins finished with 127 yards on 22 carries and rushed for the Falcons' only score of the second half. Palmdale took over on the Antelope Valley 8-yard line after Andre Crenshaw fumbled a punt, and Jenkins was able to punch in a 4-yard score, making it 17-6.

``We've had a potent passing game and I think they forgot about me,'' Jenkins said. ``I have a lot more freedom when it's just me in the backfield.''

Jenkins' effort was especially important since Palmdale quarterback Rodney Trimm did not have a completion to the Falcons' heralded receivers, Justin Shaw and T.J. McKay.

Trimm's only completions were to Jenkins and JaVonte Holmes, who played slot receiver for the first time since dislocating his right (throwing) shoulder two weeks ago against Upland. Holmes had been the starting quarterback before the injury and sat out last week.

Despite Antelope Valley's second-half comeback, the Palmdale defense was superb. The Falcons allowed only 189 total yards to Antelope Valley, which had averaged 294 yards a game. Palmdale also limited Antelope Valley running back Kreig Peters, who had averaged 120 yards, to 40 yards on 16 carries.

``Intensity,'' Palmdale linebacker Matt Bishoff said. ``We came out and played hard and that's what happens. We stopped Kreig Peters and stopped their offense.''

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com