SHEPHERD BREAKS TWO SCHOOL RECORDS, MARAUDERS LOSE THRILLER

Photo by Bill Sobalvarro

PALM DESERT - Sure it's something he can be proud of, but Marauder quarterback Blake Shepherd has always said that he'd trade in any record for a team victory.

The sophomore quarterback broke two school records Saturday evening against College of the Desert and a late touchdown run in the final minutes of the game seemingly put the icing on a sweet victory, however, a 31-yard touchdown pass from Roadrunner quarterback De'Abrie Smith to Myles Goulborne spoiled any after party plans as COD escaped with a 41-35 victory over the Marauders at College of the Desert.

Shepherd, who finished the game 18-of-37 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, broke the AVC record for career passing yards and touchdown passes. In only 14 career games Shepherd has thrown for a little over two miles (3,780 yards) a record formerly held by Cory Allred (3,764). He has also tossed 33 touchdowns in his career, which broke the record held by Allred and Derrick Dison who each had 32.

Unfortunately, unlike last week against East L.A. College, Shepherd's heroics were not enough as AVC dropped to 2-2 overall.

The Marauders struck first early in the first quarter when Shepherd connected with his favorite target, Donte Ross, from 31 yards out giving his team the early 7-0 lead.

It was a see-saw battle with both teams taking the other's best punch. Shepherd's record breaking touchdown pass came early in the second quarter when he found Ross (six catches, 149 yards) from 61 yards out giving AVC a 14-7 lead.

Still the Roadrunners weren't fazed by anything the Marauders did as they responded to every score. AVC led 21-7 at one point in the second quarter, but COD (2-2), which has won two consecutive games since dropping its first two games to highly touted teams, responded with a couple of scores sending the game tied, 21-21, into the locker room.

The Marauders regained momentum in the second half as Blake Verrett returned the opening kickoff 94 yards which gave AVC 28-21 lead. Last week against East L.A. College, Verrett returned a kickoff 96 yards in AVC's victory over the Huskies.

The Marauders trailed 34-28 late in the fourth quarter and flash back to last week against East L.A. College when AVC trailed 25-23 late in the fourth quarter and Shepherd's 18-yard touchdown scamper proved to be the game winner.

Shepherd and the Marauders were in a similar situation. Shepherd scored on a 7-yard touchdown run and AVC took a 35-34 lead with only 33 seconds remaining. This time the Marauders could not hold the lead as only 20 seconds later the Roadrunners scored the game winning touchdown.

Smith finished the game 32-of-54 for 310 yards and two touchdowns.