FOOTBALL ’89 : Carder Molding Young Team at Antelope Valley

Brent Carder is entering his 20th season as the coach at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, but the Marauder mentor doesn’t know what to expect of this year’s team.

“We seem to have good speed and we seem to be a good-hitting group,� Carder said. “We look aggressive in workouts so far, but we’re so inexperienced that I don’t know enough about us to make any predictions.�

With only eight sophomores on the squad, Carder’s hesitancy is understandable.

Antelope Valley (8-2-1) finished second in the revamped Foothill Conference last season, but only five starters return from that squad, which lost to Southwestern, 20-16, in the Hall of Fame Bowl in San Diego.

Quarterback Mike Dalley could be the most vital returning player. The offense averaged more than 342 yards (248 rushing) with Dalley at the controls last season.

End Charles Bickham (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) and outside linebacker Matt Volpe (5-10, 205) will anchor the Antelope Valley defense, which allowed just 12 points a game in 1988.

Dalley completed 34 of 87 passes for 526 yards and three touchdowns last season and also ran for five scores.

Carder expects tailback Gerald Mitchell (23 carries for 158 yards and three touchdowns, four receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns) and tight end Quincy Edwards to become major contributors to Antelope Valley’s offense as well.

“We’ll still be an option team,� Carder said, “but I expect us to throw the ball more this season.�

After averaging 11 passes a game in 1988, Carder would like to increase that number to about 20 this season.

Carder lists quarterback Cole Spears (Palmdale High), linebacker Lester Larry (Kennedy) and defensive lineman Tim Welch (Quartz Hill) as Antelope Valley’s leading freshmen.

Welch graduated from high school in 1985 before serving a four-year stint in the Navy.