MARUADER RECORDS FALL, BUT SO DOES AVC 54-40 TO SANTA MONICA

Photo by Craig Rowitz Photography

Marauder Football broke or tied eight records – all passing – but still was unable to come up with enough points to beat Santa Monica, losing in the American Pacific opener 54-40.

The records broke were four TD receptions by Derek Denton (old record three by six others including Tom Crenshaw in 1954 which was AVC's oldest record), who had 12 receptions and 148 yards to go with the scores; Most Passing Attempts – 63 by Blake Shepherd and team (breaking old records of 45 by Tracy Gallagher – now Trace Gallagher on Fox News – and 58 by the team against Taft in 1979); Most Completions – 30 by Shepherd and team (Breaking old records of 28 by Jamar Culver twice in 2002 and 28 by Team in same two games); Most Yards gained passing – 490 by Shepherd and Team (Old record 397 by Cory Allred and Team against Mt. San Jacinto in 2001); and Most Touchdown Passes Thrown – 5 by Shepherd and Team, tying old record set by Josh Firm vs. Santa Monica in 2009 and Brandon Mims vs. LA Harbor in 2010 and by the team in both those games.

The 94 points scored was the seventh most combined points in a Marauder game.  It was also the third straight time the Corsairs scored 54 or more points against AVC as Santa Monica won its 28^th straight American Pacific game.

The Corsairs scored on a blocked punt return, field goal and interception return to lead 17-0 with only 12 minutes gone.

But quickly Shepherd found Denton for seven and Alex Byers for a 43 yard TD to close it up to 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. 

Then the No. 1 offense in the state took over, rolling for 23 points in the second and a 40-14 halftime lead.

Santa Monica was actually just under it's offensive average with a 627 yard night, but the Corsair defense let AVC nearly get 600 hundred themselves – ending the night with 599 with 490 in the air.

Santa Monica took it out to 47-14 early in the third, but as the second team for the Corsairs started to get playing time, AVC refused to let down, converting interceptions and fumble recoveries into scores.

In fact win just one minute and 13 seconds of one another, two Denton TDs brought AVC to within 14 with 9:27 to play.

But, with four minutes left, and the Marauders driving and Shepherd looking to break another school record, instead he was intercepted and never got another chance to throw the ball.