DESPITE TOUGH LOSS LAST WEEKEND, MARAUDER FOOTBALL SHOULD BOUNCE BACK

Photo by Bill Sobalvarro

SANTA MARIA - The Marauder football team had an eye opening loss last Saturday to LA Valley College when it was defeated by the Monarchs, 38-13 at Marauder Stadium.

It was AVC's first home loss of the season and its first loss in conference.

However, that doesn't mean the Marauders will lose focus and all is not lost.

AVC enters Saturday afternoon's contest against Allan Hancock only one game behind LA Valley and tied for second with Santa Barbara City College. The Marauders hold the edge by defeating the Vaqueros in a come-from-behind-victory earlier this season.

"There is no way they will lose focus," AVC head coach Perry Jehlicka said. "Each week we are trying to go 1-0. We are looking forward to play for an 11th game."

And that's what the Marauders are set up for.

With a win against the Bulldogs followed by another win next week against LA Pierce, AVC controls its own destiny and that would make them 7-3 on the season with a strong possibility for a bowl game. A unlikely slip by the Monarchs could help propel the Marauders back into a first place tie.

Allan Hancock is coming off a huge 60-0 victory against LA Pierce last week and is looking to take that momentum into Saturday's game. The Bulldogs' record doesn't indicate that they have played teams tough, including Bakersfield College and Santa Barbara.

"They're a quality football team," Jehlicka said.