AVC NOTEBOOK AVC OFFENSE TAKES FLIGHT WITH ALLRED, BIG LINE.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

Perhaps Antelope Valley College public-address announcer Bruce Jacobsen said it best: ``AVC reminds me of the old Chargers. Forget about Air Coryell. We're watching Air Carder.''

Jacobsen was referring to two things. One, the pass-happy San Diego Chargers teams during the '80s, led by coach Don Coryell and quarterback Dan Fouts. And two, AVC head coach Brent Carder, whose Marauders successfully spread the field with three- and four-receiver sets en route to a 30-14 victory over College of the Desert on Saturday.

Jacobsen's comment at the time brought chuckles throughout the press box. But there is some validity to his statement.

Over the last three games, the Marauders (2-2, 1-1 Foothill Conference) have averaged 230 yards passing per contest and, for the first time since 1992, AVC has had back-to-back-to-back 200-yards-plus games.

``We used to run to open up the passing game; now we pass to open up the run,'' Carder said. ``If we can crawl on all fours to score, we'll do that too. We just want to go with whatever works.''

Deserving of some credit for the team's success is the offensive line, featuring starters Jason Bartlett (5-foot-11, 250 pounds), Terran Cheadle (6-4, 355), Blake Gaskins (6-3, 340), Dino Toby (6-1, 340) and Dustin Tupper (5-10, 250).

Averaging 307 pounds, the line is providing freshman quarterback Cory Allred time to find his receivers downfield and opening up running lanes for the Marauders' running backs.

Allred (18 for 30, 264 yards and two touchdowns) earned a co-conference player-of-the-week selection for the second consecutive week, sharing the honor with wide receiver Jerome Wright.

AVC's running-back-by-committee backfield, featuring Allred, Jamie Manor, David Newton and Demareo Robinson, gained 207 yards in the victory over COD.

Robinson carried the ball six times for 48 yards and accounted for all of AVC's 14 first-half points against COD. In the second quarter, he scored on a six-yard pass from Allred, a 1-yard plunge and the subsequent two-point conversion pass.

Manor scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to open the second half and though Newton had only four attempts, he averaged 11 yards per carry.

``We had good field position and I think we caught COD off balance by throwing the ball early,'' offensive coordinator Frank Blua said. ``We're sticking with what's hot now.''

--The playmaker: Wright, a 1998 Highland High graduate, is making the most of his opportunities. He made six catches for a career best 128 yards, good enough, if not great enough, to earn him Foothill Conference co-player of the week honors.

When AVC needed to pick up first downs, Wright was there. Of his six catches, five were for first downs. He also added 17 yards on two carries - running reverses to keep the COD defense on its heels.

``What impresses me the most about Jerome is he is tough and he holds on to the ball,'' said Blua. ``He is becoming our go-to guy.''

--Collins carries the load: Limiting the amount of big plays by COD running back Nathan Collins was a goal for the AVC coaching staff.

Collins entered the game as the Foothill Conference leader in rushing yards per game, all-purpose yards per game and points per game. The 5- foot-9, 180-pound sophomore left the same way after a solid outing against an AVC defense ranked ninth in the conference for total yards allowed per game.

Collins amassed 285 total yards from scrimmage, 113 yards rushing, 21 receiving, 151 on kick returns and scored two second-half touchdowns, increasing his leading total to seven TDs on the year.