MARAUDER FOOTBALL LOOKS TO MAKE IT THREE IN A ROW

Photo by Bill Sobalvarro

PALM DESERT - Don't be fooled by College of the Desert's 1-2 record this season.

You must remember that the Roadrunners opened their season against the second ranked team in the state, Saddleback and played them tough before losing, 31-17.

The second week COD played No. 17 ranked L.A. Valley College and only trailed 17-14 entering the final quarter before falling 23-14 to the Monarchs.

It would be safe to say that the Roadrunners are hungry.

They took out their frustration last week in an easy 61-35 victory over West L.A. College. In that game quarterback De'Abrie Smith was near perfect as he finished the game 21-of-25 for 245 yards and two touchdowns.

COD is putting up nearly 400 yards of total offense per game and loading the scoreboard with an average of nearly 31 points per game.

The Marauders (2-1), after dropping their opening game to College of the Canyons, have won two straight games, including last Saturday night against East L.A. College, 29-25.

AVC played a see-saw game with the Huskies before late heroics on an 18-yard touchdown scamper by quarterback Blake Shepherd and a late interception by Tony Dudley, Jr. sealed the victory.

Still the Marauders have not had that break out game and Shepherd has struggled somewhat throwing the ball. The sophomore quarterback has only completed 43 percent of his passes and last week was only 12-of-29 for 117 yards and a touchdown. Far from Shepherd-esque numbers.

Despite his struggles he has gotten the job doen the past two games and against ELAC, he rushed for 134 yards on nine carries to help lead his team to the victory. AVC has had a balanced attack and hasn't needed to rely on the strong right arm of Shepherd.

The Marauders are averaging 178 yards through the air and 166 yards on the ground led by Tre Coleman. Coleman has been the blue collar workhorse for AVC and on Saturday he rushed for 110 yards on 28 carries.

The Marauders are ranked tied for fifth in the Southern California-American Division, while the Roadrunners are ranked ninth.