Perfect finish

HESPERIA • The Hesperia football team defeated Apple Valley 52-9 to finish the regular season undefeated and claim the outright Mojave River League title on Friday night at Scorpion Stadium.

Hesperia’s league title is its first in school history.

“We’re all kind of blown away right now,” said Hesperia senior quarterback Ian Harriman, who threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns on 9 of 12 passing in the first half. “It’s crazy right now. (On the freshman team) we went undefeated and to go undefeated in (our senior) year, it’s a good thing for us. Making school history, who couldn’t be excited for that?”

The Scorpions (10-0, 4-0 MRL) left no doubt in this one, as they scored on the second play from scrimmage on a Gavin Santos’ 5-yard run and jumped out to a 35-0 first-quarter lead. Hesperia’s first score was set up by a huge kickoff return by Santos, followed by a 40-yard completion from Harriman to Evan Montes.

The early advantage was helped by two Apple Valley (4-6, 1-3 MRL) short punts and two recovered fumbles by the Hesperia defense, one deep in the Sun Devils’ territory. Hesperia totaled 306 first-half yards to Apple Valley’s 94.

Joseph Peters caught five passes — three of which were touchdown grabs of 42, 15 and 36 yards — for 115 yards. One of his touchdowns came when Apple Valley left him wide open and another when the ball somehow popped out of the Apple Valley defensive backs’ hands into his.

Santos rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns and had a couple of big kick returns. Eddie Flores recovered a first-quarter fumble that eventually led to a Scorpions’ score and later returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Apple Valley, which will fall short of the playoffs for the second year in a row, was led by quarterback Justin Brookshire who threw for 120 yards and a touchdown, but lost a fumble and threw an interception. Daryon Mosley added 64 yards on the ground, and Isaac Deleon caught five passes and made a field goal.

Playoff seedings will be announced on Sunday at 11 a.m. on cifss.org.

Apple Valley 0 3 0 6 — 9
Hesperia 35 7 10 0 — 52

First Quarter
H — Santos 5 run (Martinez kick)
H — Waddell 48 pass from Harriman (Martinez kick)
H — Peters 42 pass from Harriman (Martinez kick)
H — Santos 4 run (Martinez kick)
H — Peters 15 pass from Harriman (Martinez kick)
Second Quarter
H — Peters 36 pass from Harriman (Baudoin kick)
A — Deleon 28 FG
Third Quarter
H — Martinez 32 FG
H — Flores 88 interception return (Baudoin kick)
Fourth Quarter
A — Barrett 21 pass from Brookshire (run failed)

C.J. Daft can be reached at christiand@vvdailypress.com or at 951-6275.