Antelope Valley Facing Key Game Without 3 Players Accused of Rape : College football: Two others also named in complaint by 14-year-old are not charged because they might testify in the case.

Under ideal circumstances, Antelope Valley College football Coach Brent Carder would have nothing to worry about this week except preparing his team for Saturday’s regular-season finale against defending Foothill Conference champion Citrus.

But after Marauder players David Brown, 20, Bradley Cole Jr., 20, and Gene Washington, 22, all of Lancaster, were each arraigned in Antelope Valley Municipal Court on Tuesday on one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, Carder has a lot more to concern himself with than just X’s and O’s.

Charles Slayton, 20, a reserve offensive lineman, and Eric Price, 20, a backup wide receiver, both of Lancaster, also were named in the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl at a party at a Lancaster apartment the morning of Oct. 5, but prosecutors decided not to file charges against them because they might testify in the case.

Brown, who lived in the apartment with Cole, entered a plea of not guilty at the arraignment and was released on his own recognizance. Cole and Washington also were released on their own recognizance before entering a plea.

The next hearing will be Dec. 10, at which a date for the preliminary hearing will be set.

None of the five will play against Citrus, Carder said Tuesday evening. A team rule prohibits playing after an unexcused absence from practice.

Carder has not made a decision on whether they will play should Antelope Valley qualify for a junior college bowl game. “I’m not even thinking about bowl games right now,� he said. “We’ve got to win on Saturday before we can think about that.�

Carder said reports of the alleged incident caught him off guard.

“I’m surprised with what has happened,� he said. “I’ve had no problems with (Brown, Cole or Washington). They’ve done what we’ve asked them to do. Around me, they’ve been fine.�

The charge faced by Brown, Cole and Washington is a felony that carries a maximum sentence of three years in a state prison. But Deputy District Attorney Chesley McKay said that he would not seek state prison time and that the most the players would face would be a year in county jail because none of the three has a criminal record.

Sheriff’s officials said Monday that the Lancaster girl was intoxicated after an evening of drinking. At the party, she was raped by at least three players, deputies said. However, McKay said there was insufficient evidence to charge Price and there was no evidence that Slayton had participated.

Brown, a starting wide receiver, and Cole, a reserve wide receiver, were both arrested last Friday in Lancaster. Brown was arrested at the Antelope Valley campus and Cole was summoned to the sheriff’s station in Lancaster, according to Carder.

Washington, a reserve running back, was questioned along with Cole at the sheriff’s station Friday, but he turned himself in Tuesday afternoon at the station.

Washington played in Antelope Valley’s 59-34 victory over Mt. San Jacinto on Saturday. The win improved the Marauders’ record to 8-1 overall, and 6-1 in conference play, heading into Saturday’s showdown with Citrus.

If Antelope Valley defeats Citrus and San Bernardino Valley (7-2, 6-1) beats Rio Hondo, the teams would tie for the conference title. But Antelope Valley would be the host team for the Southern California Bowl, Dec. 7, as the conference champion, because the Marauders beat San Bernardino, 7-0.

Carder said he has no idea how his team, ranked seventh in the Southland poll, would react.

“They were aware of what had happened Friday, but I didn’t see any noticeable difference in the way they played Saturday. . . . Based on the way this team has operated all season long, I wouldn’t think there would be a problem,� he said.

“This team has managed to stay focused come game time all season. They’ve gotten the job done when it’s been time to play.�

Quarterback Marty Washington--no relation to Gene Washington--defensive lineman Daron Rodgers and defensive back Wilson Hookfin, three of Antelope Valley’s leading players, told school officials Tuesday that they would not comment on the arrests.

“It’s kind of a personal thing with them,� said Glenn Haller, the school’s sports information director. “The last thing they want to do is have what’s happened distract them from the Citrus game. Their feeling is we have to get ready for Citrus.�

Staff writer John Chandler contributed to this story.