A.V. STARTS ANOTHER JOURNEY MARAUDERS HOPE TO BREAK LOSING TREND IN ROAD OPENER.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

On the road again.

The Antelope Valley College football team and coach Brent Carder would like to erase the traveling memories from season openers past. And a victory at Santa Monica tonight - the first game of 2000 for both teams - would wipe the slate clean for the Marauders.

AVC is on a seven-game losing streak, spanning the last nine years, while playing season openers on the road. But there is room for optimism for the Marauders. They hold the series edge over the Corsairs 2-0, including a 24-14 victory at Marauder stadium last year.

``We've been practicing hard for three-plus weeks, so we'll be ready,'' Carder said.

And how about the streak? ``I don't give a damn about (it) . . .''

Carder's coaching tenure at AVC has been a tribute to longevity. In 31 years, Carder has a 169-134-5 record, ranking him third in the nation for wins among active junior college coaches.

The Marauders 2000 season is going to be a learning experience. AVC will start 13 freshmen, five on offense and eight on defense. Therefore, the returning sophomores leadership on and off the field will be key.

Enter the locksmith, David Newton, a returning All-Foothill Conference first-team selection and Littlerock High graduate.

As a freshman in 1999, Newton (5-foot-8 and 185 pounds) rushed for 453 yards, a 5.4 average per carry, and scored five touchdowns. He rushed for a carrer-high 166 yards, scored on a 65-yard run in a 31-29 victory over San Diego Mesa and is poised for a breakout year.

Defensively, the Marauders' strength will be the sophomore linebacking corps of Adam Fabela, David Fetters and William Upchurch.

Fabela (Littlerock) is coming off a solid 1999 season. At 5-9, 220, the inside linebacker recorded 60 tackles, added a sack and an interception.

Fetters (Quartz Hill) is undersized at 5-10 and 185, but no one plays outside linebacker with more heart. Fetters is the team's leading returning tackler (64 tackles and four sacks).

``Fetters is tough and relies on his quickness,'' Carder said. ``He has a good head on his shoulders and knows how to play the game.''

AVC has 32 local players from the region on this years roster.

Two freshmen in paricular, Cory Allred (Rosamond) and Jamar Culver (Bethel Christian), have battled for the starting quarterback spot since practice began. Allred, (6-0, 160) played consistently over the summer and will get the start against Santa Monica, though Culver (6-4, 200), mobile with good size, will also see playing time.

The Marauders offensive line has good size.

Dustin Tupper is 5-10 and 250, a second-team All-Foothill Conference selection last year, but is small compared to Terran Westchester (6-4, 355), Dino Toby (6-1, 340) and Blake Gaskins (6-3, 340). Gaskins was an important member on Paraclete High's three-time defending Southern Section Division XII championship team.

The special-teams unit returns punter Michael Blua, who averaged 39 yards per kick. Opponents returned those kicks only 5.3 yards per try.

--Extra point: Offensive coordinator Frank Blua and defensive-backs coach Joe Watts played on the AVC team that won the Foothill Conference title in 1973. Blua was a member on the Division II state-championship team in 1974 and defensive coordinator George Fetters played from 1967-68. Who was their coach? The venerable Carder of course, who also played at the college from 1958-59.

AT A GLANCE

Team: Antelope Valley College

Coach: Brent Carder

1999 record: 5-5

Conference finish: Foothil, fifth

League record: 4-4

Top returners: OL Terran Cheadle, So., 6-4, 355; LB David Fetters, So., 5-8, 185; RB David Newton, So., 5-8, 185; RB Demareo Robinson, So., 5-9, 190; OL Dustin Tupper, So., 5-10, 250

Newcomers: QB Cory Allred, Fr. 6-0, 160; QB Jamar Culver, Fr., 6-4, 200; DL Anthony Diggs, Fr., 6-0, 230; RB Kevin Morris, Fr., 5-8, 170; DL Edwin Reed, Fr., 6-4, 240; LB Brent Trice, Fr., 6-3, 275

AVC SCHEDULE

Sept. 9. at Santa Monica, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16 Canyons, 7 p.m.

Sept. 23 at *Grossmont, 3 p.m.

Sept. 30 *Desert, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7 @ *Chaffey, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 * Southwestern, 3 p.m.

Oct. 21 *San Diego Mesa, 3 p.m.

Oct. 28 at *Mt. San Jacinto, 1 p.m.

Nov. 4 *Victor Valley, 3 p.m.

Nov. 18 at *San Bernadino, 7 p.m.

* Indicates Foothill Conference Game

CAPTION(S):

2 boxes

Box: (1 -- ran in AV edition only) At a Glance (see text)

(2) AVC Schedule (see text)