AVC FOOTBALL ADVANCE: AVC PLAYS GROUND GAME STRATEGY TO RUN BALL, STOP OPPONENTS FROM DOING SO.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Based on the numbers, you would think the traditionally pass-happy Foothill Conference underwent an extreme offseason makeover.

The Antelope Valley College football team has to wonder because it is facing pass-oriented offenses that this season are running the ball more than they have in years.

The pattern continues today when AVC plays host to San Diego Mesa at 5 p.m. at Marauder Field. The Olympians will be AVC's second consecutive opponent that during the offseason morphed from a passing team to a rushing team.

Victor Valley, AVC's Week 7 opponent, has undergone a similar transformation.

A trend?

``I don't know about that, but it's happening this year, '' AVC coach Brent Carder said. ``Sometimes things change.''

Fortunately for AVC, that change plays into the hands one of its greatest overall strengths. The Marauders' defense is allowing an average of 110 rushing yards per game and held Southwestern of Chula Vista to 72 yards last week in a 13-12 AVC victory.

``I think we're probably playing better against the run right now,'' Carder said. ``It's been kind of a team effort.''

Leading that effort have been defensive linemen John Ikahihifo (Highland) and Greg Gibson, and linebackers Cory Gray and Keith Noonan. Ikahifo, last season's Golden League Defensive Lineman of the Year, had five tackles against Southwestern.

Considering the Marauders (3-1, 1-1) and San Diego Mesa (2-2, 1-1) are in a five-way tie for third place, AVC's ability to stop the run figures to be a key factor as it tries to break away from the pack.

With an offense that has sputtered and several key players sidelined, this isn't the best of times for AVC. The Marauders, who are ranked eighth in the nine-team conference in both rushing and passing and seventh in total offense, figure to rely heavily on their defense.

AVC will be without starting quarterback Justin Dion (Desert), who spent most of the past week hospitalized with pneumonia, and fullback Sean Wallace (Antelope Valley), who suffered a broken leg in a Week 2 19-16 nonconference victory over Pierce.

The Marauders will count on a more mobile but less experienced quarterback in Ron Hamilton (Quartz Hill), and Aaron Wilson (Antelope Valley) will spell Wallace.

The good news for the Marauders is that their ground game appears to be gaining traction, with Justin Freeman becoming the first Marauder this season to rush for 100 yards this season, gaining 119 on 26 carries against Southwestern.

Freeman and the Marauders will look to take advantage of a dreadful Olympians run defense ranked last in the conference, allowing an average of 253.5 yards per game. San Diego Mesa is ranked last in its conference overall defensively, allowing an average of 410.5 yards per game.

``Last week, we were finally able to run the ball better,'' Carder said. ``We're going to continue to work on it and hopefully we can get better. I'm hoping we can the ball against (San Diego Mesa).

Gideon Rubin [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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Antelope Valley College will be without quarterback Justin Dion for tonight's game against San Diego Mesa.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer