Rebel rousers face tough test vs. Palmdale

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It may be something of a David vs. Goliath scenario (Editor Bob: For a quick but fun recap of this story, see YouTube video at end of this blog), but if Quartz Hill can wring out all the talent in their five sophomore and six junior starters, they could make things interesting Friday against five-time Golden League champions Palmdale.

‘We’re basically a really good JV team,’ Quartz Hill Coach Pat Degnan said. ‘Our plan is to make a game out of it with [Palmdale] until the fourth quarter and go from there.’

It’s a conservative strategy and Degnan realizes his Rebels are facing their toughest test of the season against a Palmdale squad which boasts the league’s best RB, Ronald Scott. Still, he’s not planning on raising the white flag.

Quartz Hill needs to play its best game of the season to have a chance at winning -- something they did only for the first half of last week’s 21-14 victory over Barstow. The Rebels led 21-0 at one point, but mental lapses on both sides of the ball and penalties allowed Barstow to get back into the game.

But more than anything, the victory proved the Rebels have to be considered as a legitimate contender for a Golden League playoff spot. Of course, Degnan isn’t thinking about that right now.

‘We’re not good enough to look past anybody,’ Degnan said, ‘especially Palmdale. They have more bullets in their gun than we have guns.’

Still, the Rebels have some decent players in their arsenal, including QB Josh Firm and TE Clark Steele. WR/FS Luke Gocke has also shown promise.

‘We don’t have to play over our heads,’ Degnan said, ‘but we have to play to our capabilities.’

- Austin Knoblauch