HS FOOT: Palmdale hopes to stay Golden

Defending Golden League champion Palmdale (7-2, 6-0) has won 43 of its past 44 league games, but few have been more important than a showdown for first place this coming Friday at 7 p.m. at Highland of Palmdale (6-3, 5-1).

Palmdale is ranked No. 4 in the Western Division, and the Falcons, who have never won a section title, must win to preserve a preferential playoff seed.

"Highland is breathing down our neck hard," Palmdale coach Jeff Williams said. "It's a crosstown rivalry, and I think it's going to be a good game. Our kids know their kids, so it should be an exciting game to watch."

Palmdale has defeated Highland six times in a row since 2002.

As for the rest of the Golden League, defending Western Division champion Quartz Hill (5-4, 4-2) is among three teams competing for the final two playoff spots, along with Knight of Palmdale (5-4, 4-2) and Eastside of Lancaster (3-6, 4-2), who play at 7 p.m. at Antelope Valley High.

If Eastside loses, it would be next to impossible to qualify for an at-large playoff berth because the No. 1 criteria is a record of .500 or better.

In other Palmdale news, defensive back Joshua Shaw, one of California's most soughtafter uncommitted recruits, is scheduled to announce his college choice at a campus press conference Tuesday morning.

Shaw is picking between Notre Dame, USC, Ohio State, Florida and LSU, and he has taken official visits to the four out-of-town universities. Shaw has plans to graduate after this semester and to begin college in January.

-- Gerry Gittelson