MARAUDER FOOTBALL OPENS CONFERENCE IN IMPRESSIVE FASHION

Photo by Bill Sobalvarro

GLENDORA - The Marauder football team couldn't have scripted it any better.

AVC entered Saturday afternoon's game against Citrus College with a bit of a chip on its shoulder.

You see not many are picking the Marauders to do much damage in the American Pacific Division. But after Saturday's performance maybe AVC will open some eyes.

The Marauders built a 21-0 first quarter lead and held on to defeat Citrus on the road at Citrus College.

Blake Shepherd had undoubtedly his best game of the season as the sophomore quarterback was 23-of-38 for 475 yards and four touchdowns helping lead his team to their first road victory of the season. It was the first time this season that Shepherd has completed more than 50 percent of his passes. Last season he threw for 490 yards and tossed five touchdown passes against Santa Monica College.

Shepherd became the first-ever AVC quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards. In his career he has thrown for 4,450 yards, with four games remaining.

The Marauders (4-2, 1-0) got things rolling early in the first quarter after Shepherd found his favorite target, Donte Ross, for a 76-yard touchdown which gave AVC the early 7-0 lead. Later in the quarter the Marauders capped a 9-play, 68-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by Tre Coleman stunning the Owls (3-3, 0-1) with a 14-0 lead.

The Shepherd-Ross combination was at it again late in the first quarter after the duo connected on a 76-yard touchdown pass and before Citrus could blink, AVC led 21-0. Ross finished with nine catches for 240 yards and three scores. Ross' 240 yards were the most ever by a Marauder receiver in school history.

The Owls responded with 17 consecutive points in the second and third quarters combined and only trailed 21-17. Late in the fourth quarter, Shepherd tossed his fourth touchdown of the game, a 38-yarder to Carlon Smith giving the Marauders a 35-23 lead.