WR LAURENCE SETS MARAUDERS RECORD.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

Antelope Valley College's James Laurence was a nonfactor in the first quarter of Saturday's football game against visiting Reedley.

The sophomore wide receiver had no receptions through the first 12 minutes of the game. In fact, the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder didn't even get a pass thrown his direction.

``I just go with the flow,'' he said, ``and if the ball comes my way ...''

Eventually, the ball came Laurence's way. And when it did, he nearly was unstoppable, setting the AVC single-game record with 12 receptions for 182 yards and two touchdowns on catches of 15 and 37 yards.

Laurence admitted the record would have meant more had the Marauders not lost the season opener 46-41. Still, his patience and willingness to be a team player could prove beneficial over the course of the season.

``The quarterbacks are going to make the decisions they feel best, and I respect that,'' Laurence said. ``I just do my best to do what's best for the team.''

AVC travels to Santa Barbara on Saturday (4 p.m. start) for its final nonconference game before Foothill Conference play begins Sept. 28 at home against Desert.

--He's back: Also impressive was the play of wideout Jerome Wright, who often lines up opposite of Laurence, making the pass-catching tandem difficult to defend.

Wright showed no ill effects from sitting out all of last season, totaling 132 yards on nine receptions to tie the old single-game record.

The Highland High graduate also showed his versatility by fielding kickoff and punt returns and holding the ball for Carlos Nunez on placekicks.

--No controversy here: Coach Brent Carder expected quarterbacks Jamar Culver and Jerad Romo to play an equal amount of time in the opener against the Tigers. But that changed once Culver started feeling more comfortable behind center.

The Bethel Christian High of Lancaster graduate played a majority of the game, completing 28 of 43 passes for 348 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

``There was three or four times he really threw the ball well when it took a good throw to get the ball in there,'' Carder said. ``He was getting hit but maintained his poise under a heck of a lot of pressure. He hung in there and didn't lose his composure.''

Romo, who played sparingly in the second half, was 2 for 6 for 8 yards with an interception.

--Learning the hard way:: Coach Newton Chelette might have figured his women's golf program, in its first year of existence, would struggle early in the season.

And the team is - AVC hasn't won a match or placed higher than sixth in any of its three matches this season.

The Marauders' sluggish start continued Monday as they finished in their customary place, sixth, at the Western State Conference match No. 3 at the par-73 Marshall Canyon Golf Course.

College of the Canyons tallied a team-low round of 331 to finish first, followed by Bakersfield (354), Santa Barbara (356), Moorpark (369) and Citrus (388).

AVC travels to Santa Barbara's Rancho San Marcos course Monday for a conference match.

--Gooooaaalll: After finishing 2-4-2 in its nonconference portion of the schedule, the women's soccer team plays host to Mt. San Jacinto on Friday in the Foothill Conference opener for both teams.

Freshman Stephanie Kneifl, from Paraclete High, has scored a team-high eight goals and leads AVC with 20 points.