Valley Drives Fast Past Antelope Valley, 47-14

On one night when Valley College’s passing game never got in gear, running back Dondre Bausley shifted into overdrive to lead the Monarchs to a 47-14 victory over Antelope Valley.

Bausley rushed 18 times for 308 yards and three touchdowns. Running mates Victor Bowlay-Williams and Jon Murphy added long-distance touchdown runs to finish off a fourth-quarter scoring avalanche.

The victory was the fifth in a row for Valley, which moved into sole possession of first place in the Southern California Conference when College of the Desert lost at San Bernadino, 17-16. Valley is 5-3, 5-1 in conference, with Desert and Harbor a half-game behind with 4-1 records.

Monarch quarterback Barry Hanks came into the game as the conference’s third-ranked passer, but completed only 7 of 22 passes for 72 yards with two interceptions.

In an error-filled game, Valley started with a stutter when Hanks called a timeout before he’d run a single play. But the strategy paid off. Three platys later, Bausley shot up the middle for 71 yards and the first score of the night.

It was only a glimpse of things to come.

Antelope Valley moved the ball well for much of the game but couldn’t seem to get into the end zone.

Quarterback Robert McGrew threw 30 yards to Gene McNabb for an early touchdown and Sean Smith dove in from two yards out in the third quarter, but otherwise the Marauders were frustrated.

Antelope Valley (4-4, 2-3) missed three field goals in the first half.

McGrew was a big help to the Marauders. He completed 15 of 31 passes for 157 yards and rushed 20 times for 109 yards in directing his team’s option offense. Sylvester Brumfield, Antelope Valley’s leading rusher, was held to 66 yards on 15 carries.

There were eight turnovers in the game, four by each team. Valley’s special teams had a particularly tough time, fumbling away a punt and a kickoff.

Antelope Valley’s Neal Stoner intercepted one pass and recovered a fumble.

Bowlay-Williams complemented Bausley’s running with seven carries for 88 yards. Antelope Valley was more balanced. Tim Lewis and Sean Smith gained 53 and 27 yards respectively to augment the ground work of McGrew and Brumfield.

Valley punter Tony Scarlata had a fine night, hitting several kicks over 50 yards and consistently pinning the Marauders inside their own 20 in the second half.