MARAUDER DEFENSE BREAKS 61-YEAR OLD RECORD IN VICTORY OVER SAN DIEGO MESA

Photo by Bruce Jacobsen

LANCASTER - After a lackluster performance on the road last week against College of the Canyons, the Marauder football team came home and looked impressive breaking a long standing 61-year old record for most sacks in a single game with a hard fought 34-27 victory over visiting San Diego Mesa College, Saturday night at Marauder Stadium.

The Marauder defense got to Mesa quarterback early and often, sacking him a record 13 times. Matthew Mazas led the charge with four sacks. The old record for sacks in a game by a Marauder team defense was 11 back in 1955 against Porterville College.

"All the credit goes to the D-line. They played real good in the trenches. It really comes down to the D-line. They really came out and did their thing," said linebacker Anthony Beko, who finished with six tackles and a sack. "It was a tough game. It was a back and forth game. We really just found a way to pull it out in the end. In week one we got punched in the mouth and we realized what we need to work on. We went back to the drawing board and I think we're moving in the right direction."

It was an all around team effort for AVC (1-1). Not only did the defense do its thing, the offense put up efficient numbers as well. Tre Coleman rushed for 87 yards on 18 carries and scored three touchdowns. It's the third time in his career that Coleman has scored at least three touchdowns in a game.

AVC's defense stymied the Olympians (0-2) rushing attack holding them to -22 yards. Mesa's next option was to air it out. It did throw for a total of 373 yards.

Both teams entered the locker room tied 14-14 at halftime. The Marauders took a 21-14 lead following a 2-yard run by Coleman, his first of the game. The Olympians responded when receiver Tyler Crayton caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Walker Petty. The extra point was missed and the Marauders were clinging to a one-point lead.

Coleman scored his final two touchdowns of one and four yards respectively, the second coming with only 1:38 remaining in the game, giving his team a comfortable 34-20 lead.

AVC quarterback Blake Shepherd didn't have his usual game through the air, however, he did toss a touchdown pass and ran for another.