RESERVE PLAYERS KICK IN PALMDALE QUARTERBACK MIMS SHINES IN VICTORY.

Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- Palmdale High's perennially dominant football program has relied heavily on big-name players on its way to winning four consecutive Golden League titles.

In the aftermath of heavier-than-usual graduation losses, coach Jeff Williams made a point of telling his team that its lesser-known players would have to make an impact if the program was going to continue its winning tradition.

That's exactly what happened Friday in an impressive 14-9 nonleague victory over Kennedy of Granada Hills.

Reserve quarterback Brandon Mims, an unheralded sophomore who is Palmdale's second quarterback in as many games, played a virtually mistake-free game.

Sophomore running back Marquell Jefferson rushed for 113 yards.

Senior linebacker Andrew Contreras and senior defensive back Terrence Shepard were key factors defensively for the Falcons (1-1).

Williams said his team showed significant improvements throughout the week in practices, and the result was much better execution on both sides of the ball than in a Week 1 32-0 loss to Crespi of Encino.

``That's what we told them we had to do,'' Williams said. ``We had to have some guys step up and that's what they did.''

Mims returns to his natural receiver position after spelling senior David Coleman, who missed the first two weeks for unspecified disciplinary reasons.

Mims was just 3-for-9 passing for 55 yards, but showed tremendous poise executing several crucial third-down plays, Williams said.

``He just played within himself and we made some great strides since the first week,'' Williams said. ``He told me after the game that he was really nervous, but I thought he did an exceptional job.''

``Strange year'':

Palmdale's victory was among the few highlights of what so far from the Golden League's standpoint has been a dreadful nonleague performance.

Heavy graduation losses, expansion, and exceedingly difficult nonleague schedules have contributed to a 3-13 start.

On Friday, Chatsworth upset Golden League power Lancaster, 10-7.

``It's been kind of a strange year, but the Golden League is going to be tough when it counts,'' Williams said.

Quality win?:

Knight had more than 500 yards of total offense in Thursday's 34-14 victory over Golden Valley of Santa Clarita. Option quarterback Terrell Merritt combined for 320 total yards (150 passing, 170 rushing).

But Knights coach Jim Bauer doesn't quite know what to make of the victory, noting that Golden Valley of Santa Clarita's second-year varsity program doesn't qualify as a measuring stick.

Knight, a second-year varsity program too, snapped an eight-game losing streak.

``For a new program that was on an eight-game losing streak, anything positive is good but I can't say it's a quality win,'' Bauer said.

Clerical error:

Littlerock sophomore quarterback Jonathan LaRicca and junior guard/middle linebacker Abel Magana have been cleared to play after a clerical error caused them to miss the first two weeks for eligibility.

The Lobos (0-2) have committed 16 turnovers and have been outscored 26-0 so far, including 22-0 on Friday against Paraclete.

LaRicca was scheduled to start practicing Monday and expected to start Friday's nonleague game against Alemany of Mission Hills.

Magana will miss this week's game for unspecified medical reasons.

LaRicca has been developed over the summer under first-year coach James Vondra, who is employing a pass-oriented West Coast offense.

Senior Darod McKnight, who played quarterback the past two weeks, returns to his starting receiver position, essentially putting two of Littlerock's top skilled players back at their natural positions.

``We have reason to be optimistic because we have a quarterback who is comfortable running our offense,'' Vondra said.

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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Sophomore reserve quarterback Brandon Mims, Palmdale High's second signal-caller in as many games, played a virtually mistake-free game.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer