Antelope Valley Loses, 24-16, Despite Fast Start and Finish

The Antelope Valley College football team started fast and closed with a flurry, but the Marauders couldn’t overcome a mid-game lapse that led to a 24-16 loss Saturday to Mt. San Jacinto in a Foothill Conference game.

Jarod Dodson returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown to give Antelope Valley a 7-0 lead 13 seconds into the game.

But then the Marauders dug themselves a hole, yielding three touchdowns and a field goal before rallying again in the final six minutes.

Antelope Valley also scored nine points in the final six minutes, but fell to 1-7, 1-5 in conference play. The Eagles improved to 6-2, 4-2.

Roosevelt Miller scored on a 27-yard screen pass from quarterback Michael Gleich, and Zoltan Matrai added a 20-yard field goal to close the gap to 24-16 with just over two minutes remaining.

Antelope Valley recovered an onside kick and drove to midfield before Gleich threw an interception to end Antelope Valley’s hopes.

Gleich completed nine of 20 passes for 123 yards. Miller had 63 yards in 11 carries and added another 89 yards with six receptions.

Antelope Valley ran only four plays in the first quarter and didn’t complete a pass in the first half.