AVC NOTEBOOK: BACK ON TRACK, AVC LOOKING AHEAD.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

The eight-game losing streak that lingered in the back of the minds of the Antelope Valley College football team is history.

Jason Smith caught a 4-yard, game-winning touchdown pass from Justin Dion in the waning moments of Saturday's 32-29 nonconference victory against visiting Pierce, snapping the dubious streak which had dated to last season.

``We're just trying to get better each week,'' said coach Brent Carder, who downplayed the importance of winning, instead turning his focus toward this week's Foothill Conference opener against visiting Chaffey.

So much for the thrill of victory. At least AVC doesn't have to worry about the agony of defeat any longer.

A victory against conference front-runner Chaffey would be significant for a number of reasons, perhaps none more important than gaining added confidence for the remainder of conference play.

It won't be easy, though. Chaffey has won the past five meetings between the teams and eight of the past nine.

``Every game is important,'' Carder said. ``We need to execute better and not make any mistakes.

--Worst to first? Portola George knows what it's like to lose after having played on last season's women's volleyball team, which finished with a 4-15 record, its worst in the program's 21-year history.

That doesn't mean the 6-foot-1 middle blocker, a returning All-Foothill Conference selection, is content with doing the same this season.

George and her Marauders teammates are determined to turn things around beginning today at 5 p.m. in a nonconference match at Mt. San Antonio.

AVC then turns its attention to the Santa Ana tournament, which begins Friday and runs throughout the weekend, and a nonconference match against Porterville on Sept. 26.

--Cross training: Ryan Rogers is off to a fast start and so is the men's cross country team, which placed second among 18 teams over the weekend at the Ventura College Invite meet.

Glendale finished in first with 65 points, followed by AVC (113) and third-place Ventura (116).

Individually, Rogers placed second, finishing the 4-mile course in 22:02 seconds. Teammate Jose Burrola ran well, placing fifth with a time of 22.24.

Rogers' effort comes as little surprise considering he placed fifth in the season opener at Cal State Fullerton meet in late August. He ran the 5- mile course in 25:31, 40 seconds faster than his time at that distance last season.

``He's our number one guy,'' coach Mark Covert said of Rogers, the defending Foothill Conference champion. ``He's put in quite a bit of work over the summer, and he's starting to run to his potential.''

The Marauders have the next three weeks off but don't plan to res, training toward being in top shape for the Bakersfield Invite on Oct. 3.

``We can use this time to get race sharp,'' Covert said. ``It's early in the season, but we're running very well. We seem to be going in the right direction, and it's encouraging.''

Sean Ceglinsky, [phone]

sean.ceglinsky(at)dailynews.com