HS FOOT: Knight time

Things looked bleak Friday for Knight of Palmdale when two-time 1,000-yard running back Christian Bush was injured in the first series against Eastside of Lancaster in a finale Knight had to win to make the Western Division playoffs.

Corey Finister, a sophomore backup who had not seen the football in three weeks and had just 25 carries this season, was pressed into duty and responded by rushing 38 times for 263 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-14 victory.

Knight has won three in a row heading into a first-round matchup Friday at Redondo (5-5) - Knight's first playoff game in school history.

In other Golden League news, things got ugly Friday toward the end of Lancaster's 68-14 victory over visiting Antelope Valley. Scuffles broke out, and a total of eight players were ejected, five from Lancaster.

The three ejected Antelope Valley players are juniors, so all must sit out the 2010 season opener, per Southern Section rules whenever someone is ejected.

-- Gerry Gittelson