MARAUDER FOOTBALL SQUANDERS ANOTHER SECOND HALF LEAD, BOWL CHANCES ALL BUT LOST

Photo by Ed Beyer PhD

LANCASTER - It is something that will haunt the Marauder football team all summer and into next season.

What if? If only.

What went wrong in the second half? Much of the season.

The Marauders played well against Canyons only to get outscored in the second half. They played San Diego Mesa tough for two quarters only to lose the final two quarters. They blew a 22-point second half lead to College of the Desert, only to lose. Last week against conference champion Allan Hancock, they went into halftime tied 7-7, only to get outscored 14-0 in the second half.

And it happened again on Saturday night.

This time the Marauders led 17-0 entering halftime and left Marauder Stadium with a disappointing 22-17 loss at the hands of Pierce and with it probably ruined their chances of competing in the post season.

AVC had everything going for itself in the first half. On the Marauders' opening possession DJ Payne scored from 17 yards out giving his team the early 7-0 lead. Despite the fact that AVC knew Hancock had already clinched the conference title after defeating Citrus earlier in the day, it was still amped at the fact it could potentially compete in a bowl game.

Midway through the second quarter, the Marauders extended their lead to 14-0 after Michael McPeek found John Johnson from 19 yards for the score. On that play a defender from Pierce tipped the ball into the hands of Johnson who kept both feet in bounds for the score. A field goal just before the half put the Marauders up 17-0.

AVC seemed to lose focus in the second half as the Brahmas scored 22 unanswered points to take the lead.

The Marauders had golden opportunities to take the lead, but a fumble inside the red zone and a penalty giving Pierce a first down sealed the victory.

AVC couldn't capitalize off five turnovers committed by Pierce.