RUN DEFENSE KEY TO VICTORY AGAINST MT. SAN JACINTO

Photo by Bill Sobalvarro

LANCASTER - If there ever was a blueprint for handing Mt. San Jacinto College its first loss of the season on Saturday night it certainly would be stopping the state's leading rusher: Jomari Becnel.

The freshman Becnel is a shifty, quick, crafty runner from Virginia who leads the state in rushing averaging 143 yards per game.

The Marauder defense, which has struggled this season, must contain Becnel and keep the Eagle offense off the field and leave the ball in the hands of Blake Shepherd and the AVC (2-2) offense. The Marauders are allowing an average of 109 yards rushing per game.

The Eagles are 3-0 this season and have an easy 43-0 victory over El Camino College their opening game of the season. However, they have struggled their last two games against winless Glendale College and a recent 19-16 victory against L.A. Pierce College.

Mt. San Jacinto is only allowing 12 points per game and scoring an average of 28 points per game, but they haven't seen an offense as potent as the Marauders, who come into the game averaging 28 points per game.

Shepherd hasn't had his best year completing only 45 percent of his passes. He did break two AVC records last week against College of the Desert. Shepherd broke the record for all time passing yards and touchdown passes and looks to add to that this week against the Eagles which are only allowing 98 pass yards per game.

Enter Donte Ross.

Despite only allowing less than 100 yards per game, the Eagles must be on high alert of Shepherd and Ross, who ranks sixth in the state in yards (406), eighth in yards per game (101.5) and 11th in receptions (23).

The Marauders are a dominant over the years against Mt. San Jacinto, 21-11. AVC is undefeated against at home this season with victories against San Diego Mesa College and East L.A. College.