FOOTBALL: Marauders rally to beat Mt. San Jacinto
Sept. 7, 2014
ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press Assistant Sports Editor
LANCASTER — Well, that wasn't the start quarterback RJ Gordon wanted for his Antelope Valley College career.
But the second half wasn't half bad.
Looking to bring stability to a position that last year didn't see a clear-cut starter, AVC's Gordon-led offense couldn't have looked much worse in the first 30 minutes on Saturday night at Marauder Stadium.
The next 30, which resulted in a 27-20 comeback win for AVC over Mt. San Jacinto, gave Gordon and the Marauders reasons to get excited about 2014.
The winning play on a night in which AVC (1-0) got better by the minute came with the Marauders down by a point with 6:14 to go in the fourth quarter.
After Gordon hit receiver Milton Cheek IV's hands with a long pass that would have put AVC deep inside the Eagles' territory had it been caught, running back Ron Howard took a handoff on a third-and-8 and ran it all the way from the 37-yard line to put AVC up for the first time all night.
A two-point conversion from Gordon, who finished 15-for-34 for 236 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, to Derek Denton gave the Marauders the final margin of victory.
The defense, which was strong all night long, then stopped Eagles quarterback Casey Rogers after Mt. San Jacinto had driven all the way to AVC's 9yard line with 26 seconds to go.
The game ended on Rogers' fourth consecutive incomplete pass just as the clock hit zero, and the Marauders, who won for just the second time in their last six openers, ran on the field to celebrate.
But it wasn't nearly as pretty a sight early on.
Mt. San Jacinto looked to be in business from the start, with running back Eddy Williams, who finished with 133 rushing yards, gaining yards at will in the first drive. It wasn't until the Marauders tackled him for a loss deep into their territory that the Eagles' offense stalled. The result was a 44-yard missed field goal.
It was the theme of the first half. The Marauders' defense was at its best in the red zone. But the offense wasn't doing it many favors.
Following another failed attempt to get a drive going, the Marauders, who visit Victor Valley next Saturday, got set to punt from their own end zone on a fourth-and-16. But the snap was dropped by Ronald Jones III, who picked the ball up and tried to run for a first down.
He was tackled short at AVC's 22. Moments later, Mt. San Jacinto quarterback Casey Rogers threw a 4-yard touchdown to Jamion Lindsey and the PAT made it 10-0 Eagles with 9:51 to go in the second quarter.
The AVC defense again saw itself in trouble after Gordon threw an ill-advised pass as he was being tackled in his own end of the field. His wobbler was picked off and returned to AVC's 8-yard line. But the defense held the Eagles to a field goal.
Gordon, who finished the first half 6-for-18 for 35 yards, ended the first half on somewhat of a positive note. The sophomore ripped a long run from deep in his own territory to set his offense with a first down at his 42-yard line.
That seemed to set the tone for the second half.
He threw for more than 100 yards alone in a third quarter his team trailed 13-0 and led the charge back as AVC turned what was shaping up to be a disaster into a thrilling debut.
He started it with his feet, running into the end zone for a score on a 3rd-and-3 with 10:51 to go in the third quarter. Just a minute later, he did it with his arm, finding Denton, who had 115 receiving yards and two TDs, for a 50-yard reception to tie the game at 13-13.
The defense assisted Gordon greatly in the drives, forcing fumbles inside the Eagles' territory.
But the Eagles were hardly done. Starting from AVC's 49, Rogers worked quickly. In just two passes, the second a 20-yard touchdown strike to Lindsey, Rogers put his team back on top 19-13 midway through the third.
AVC answered immediately. A 26-yard pass from Gordon to Denton on a 3rd-and-six with 2:53 to go in the third brought the Marauders within a point at 20-19.
But the PAT was missed.
ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press Assistant Sports Editor
LANCASTER — Well, that wasn't the start quarterback RJ Gordon wanted for his Antelope Valley College career.
But the second half wasn't half bad.
Looking to bring stability to a position that last year didn't see a clear-cut starter, AVC's Gordon-led offense couldn't have looked much worse in the first 30 minutes on Saturday night at Marauder Stadium.
The next 30, which resulted in a 27-20 comeback win for AVC over Mt. San Jacinto, gave Gordon and the Marauders reasons to get excited about 2014.
The winning play on a night in which AVC (1-0) got better by the minute came with the Marauders down by a point with 6:14 to go in the fourth quarter.
After Gordon hit receiver Milton Cheek IV's hands with a long pass that would have put AVC deep inside the Eagles' territory had it been caught, running back Ron Howard took a handoff on a third-and-8 and ran it all the way from the 37-yard line to put AVC up for the first time all night.
A two-point conversion from Gordon, who finished 15-for-34 for 236 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, to Derek Denton gave the Marauders the final margin of victory.
The defense, which was strong all night long, then stopped Eagles quarterback Casey Rogers after Mt. San Jacinto had driven all the way to AVC's 9yard line with 26 seconds to go.
The game ended on Rogers' fourth consecutive incomplete pass just as the clock hit zero, and the Marauders, who won for just the second time in their last six openers, ran on the field to celebrate.
But it wasn't nearly as pretty a sight early on.
Mt. San Jacinto looked to be in business from the start, with running back Eddy Williams, who finished with 133 rushing yards, gaining yards at will in the first drive. It wasn't until the Marauders tackled him for a loss deep into their territory that the Eagles' offense stalled. The result was a 44-yard missed field goal.
It was the theme of the first half. The Marauders' defense was at its best in the red zone. But the offense wasn't doing it many favors.
Following another failed attempt to get a drive going, the Marauders, who visit Victor Valley next Saturday, got set to punt from their own end zone on a fourth-and-16. But the snap was dropped by Ronald Jones III, who picked the ball up and tried to run for a first down.
He was tackled short at AVC's 22. Moments later, Mt. San Jacinto quarterback Casey Rogers threw a 4-yard touchdown to Jamion Lindsey and the PAT made it 10-0 Eagles with 9:51 to go in the second quarter.
The AVC defense again saw itself in trouble after Gordon threw an ill-advised pass as he was being tackled in his own end of the field. His wobbler was picked off and returned to AVC's 8-yard line. But the defense held the Eagles to a field goal.
Gordon, who finished the first half 6-for-18 for 35 yards, ended the first half on somewhat of a positive note. The sophomore ripped a long run from deep in his own territory to set his offense with a first down at his 42-yard line.
That seemed to set the tone for the second half.
He threw for more than 100 yards alone in a third quarter his team trailed 13-0 and led the charge back as AVC turned what was shaping up to be a disaster into a thrilling debut.
He started it with his feet, running into the end zone for a score on a 3rd-and-3 with 10:51 to go in the third quarter. Just a minute later, he did it with his arm, finding Denton, who had 115 receiving yards and two TDs, for a 50-yard reception to tie the game at 13-13.
The defense assisted Gordon greatly in the drives, forcing fumbles inside the Eagles' territory.
But the Eagles were hardly done. Starting from AVC's 49, Rogers worked quickly. In just two passes, the second a 20-yard touchdown strike to Lindsey, Rogers put his team back on top 19-13 midway through the third.
AVC answered immediately. A 26-yard pass from Gordon to Denton on a 3rd-and-six with 2:53 to go in the third brought the Marauders within a point at 20-19.
But the PAT was missed.