AVC FOOTBALL PREVIEW PASSING GRADES FRESHMEN ALLRED, WRIGHT BOOST AVC.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

Traditionally considered to have a run-the-ball-first, pass-only-when- necessary offense, the Antelope Valley College football team has changed its philosophies - for the better.

In his 31st year as coach of the Marauders, Brent Carder has opted for more of a passing game and in doing so, quarterback Cory Allred and wide receiver Jerome Wright have flourished.

The standout freshmen will line up today, in the Marauders' final game of the season against host San Bernandino Valley, with the hopes of entering their respective names atop the Marauders record books by the end of the game.

The 6-foot 160 pound Allred has completed 114 of 210 passes for 1,389 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is 101 yards short of breaking Marty Washington's 1991 record for yards in a season.

``I had heard rumors about coach Carder running the ball a lot,'' Allred said, ``and to be honest, I never thought I would've had the opportunity to throw 30 times a game. Sometimes I feel like I'm in high school again.''

At his old stomping grounds, Rosamond High, Allred was a three-sport star for the Roadrunners. As a senior, he earned All-Southern Section honors while leading the football team to the Division XII semifinals, losing to eventual champion Paraclete.

Allred was selected to the All-Southern Section basketball team in his junior and senior seasons, a fact Marauders basketball coach Newton Chelette was well aware of at the time of Allred's enrollment at AVC.

Allred also earned All-High Desert League first-team honors in baseball.

With a decorated athletic past and an AVC record looming, Allred maintains his focus is football.

``I've always taken pride in setting the standard,'' Allred said. ``I'm not one to worry about yards. But after the practices coach Carder makes us go through and all the hard work we as a team have put in, approaching the record at this point makes it all worth it.''

Allred is one of 13 freshman starters and with a victory today, the Marauders will finish 4-4 in the Foothill Conference and 5-5 overall.

``If we all come back next year, we'll make it to a bowl game,'' Allred said confidently.

The playmaker agrees.

``Not to look past this week's game, but I think we've surprised a lot of people this year,'' Jerome Wright said. ``We opened some eyes.''

In Wright's case, his eye-opening individual performances have taken a lot of defenses by surpise this year. He leads the Marauders in:

--Receptions (42) and yards receiving (598).

--Touchdowns (seven) and points scored (44).

--All-purpose yardage (769).

--Average yards per game (85).

The 6-foot, 170 pounder is three catches short of breaking Bill Hilliker's 1978 single-season record for receptions and nine short of Lamart Cooper's career record of 50 from 1991-92'.

``Jerome is a big-time receiver, he's my go-to-guy,'' Allred said. ``He runs after the catch and breaks tackles as well as anyone on the team. He's a leader.''

Among this season's honors for the Highland High graduate - a conference player of the week selection for an eight catch, 126 yard and two touchdown effort in a loss to Mt. San Jacinto and a state player of the week honor (six catches for 128 yards) against Chaffey.

Though the awards and records are great, the bottom line for Wright is winning.

``Don't get me wrong, I look at the record as a good thing, but I'd rather win as a team,'' he said. ``I just try to come out and play consistent every day. Of course, the individual records come along. . . .''

Only for the gifted ones.

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Antelope Valley freshman quarterback Cory Allred has been a key element in the team's wide open offense.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer