The Bakersfield College football team will travel to Santa Maria on Saturday for its regular season finale against conference rival, Allan Hancock College.
Currently, the Renegades (8-1, 6-0) are ranked fourth in the Commission on Athletic Southern California Regional poll and are in first place in the Western State Conference North Division.
The ‘Gades will need a win against Hancock to secure a home playoff berth in the Golden Empire Bowl, at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 18.
As usual, getting the win won’t be easy for the ‘Gades, as the Hancock Bulldogs (7-2, 4-1) will present a tough challenge, especially on their home field.
“We will have our hands full against Allan Hancock,” Jeff Chudy, BC head coach, said. “They are No. 1 in the conference offensively, they run the ball well. We will need a good week of practice and a strong defensive effort on Saturday to beat them. They need a win just like we do.”
Playing on the opposition’s field certainly hasn’t been a problem for BC this season, as the impressive road warriors have won all but one game on the road that being a 48-21 loss to highly ranked Saddleback College on Sept 9.
Saddleback, not Moorpark College, is the No. 1 ranked team in the Southern California region according to the Commission on Athletic poll. Moorpark was misquoted as the No. 1 team in the state and nation in the Oct. 23 edition of the Renegade Rip.
Even though the ‘Gades started slow in the Nov. 4 contest against the Pirates of Ventura, managing a lowly 7-0 halftime lead, they weren’t going to be denied point production in the second half, as they pounded the Pirates in every phase of the game and notched a 44-13 victory in the record books.
Running back J.R. Rogers scored midway through the second quarter on a 7-yard run and kicker Will Johnson added the extra point for the seven point edge at the half.
It was a much different story in the second half as both teams combined for 50 points, the ‘Gades scoring 23 in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth.
Ventura lit up the home side of the scoreboard early in the third quarter as the Pirates scored on a 20-yard pass from quarterback Andre Toilolu to wide receiver Andre Ingram, the extra point was good by kicker Mack Pennington and the game was all tied up at seven a piece.
The Renegades took control of things from that point on, especially on the defensive side of the ball where they set up numerous scoring opportunities for the offense.
“The way the defense has played, creating turnovers and giving us good position makes our job easier on offense,” Cody Stone, BC quarterback, said.
After the Pirates were stopped on downs by the “Renegade D,” Stone connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver T. J. Lee to give the ‘Gades the lead, Johnson added the extra point and the score was 14-7.
The BC defense once again did its job on the next series as they caused the Pirates to fumble the ball away deep in their own territory at the 25-yard line. The ‘Gades advanced the ball down to the Ventura 11-yard line where running back Patrick Patterson bulled his way into the end zone taking the middle of the Pirate defense with him. Johnson kicked his third PAT through the uprights and the ‘Gades led, 21-7.
Ventura scored its final six points of the contest on their next possession as Toilolu hit Ingram on a 47-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-13.
Enter the Bakersfield special teams!
On the Pirates extra point attempt, BC outside linebacker, Cedric Rainey blocked the kick, defensive back Kenny Graham picked up the ball and raced 83 yards to the end zone making the score, 23-7.
On BC’s next offensive possession, a little trickery by the special team paid off.
The Pirates forced the ‘Gades to punt after a good defensive stand. However, BC was not ready to give up the ball. Punter Teddy Dellaganna faked the punt passing the ball to defensive back Brian Putnam. Putnam added six more points to the board as he scampered 62-yards on the play, Johnson kicked the extra point and the ‘Gades were up 30-7.
The last 14 points were scored by the BC offense, the BC defense and Johnson. Patterson scored on a 4-yard run for his second touchdown of the game, inside linebacker Daron Mackey picked up a Ventura fumble and returned it 24 yards for a score and Johnson nailed two extra points, making the final score 44-13.
It was the second week in a row that the Renegade offense scored 40 points or more. In the Homecoming game against Moorpark College on Oct. 28, the ‘Gades destroyed the Raiders, 41-10.
J.R. Rogers got things rolling for BC offensively in the first quarter against Moorpark as he shredded the Raider defense for a 61-yard touchdown run, Will Johnson added the extra point and the ‘Gades were up, 7-0.
In the second quarter it was all BC.
Stone assaulted the Moorpark offense with two touchdown passes, one a 53-yard strike to T.J. Lee and the second a toss to J.R. Rogers who then sprinted 58 yards to the end zone. Will Johnson added the extra points on both occasions and the ‘Gades led 21-0. Stone finished the scoring in the first half with a 2-yard run and BC led highly ranked Moorpark, 27-0 at the half.
Stone completed 12-of-20 for 192 yards and two touchdown passes and rushed for one.
Rogers was a major force for the Renegade offense in this game as well as he rushed for 166 yards and caught a touchdown pass of 58 yards.
“The offensive line has made the adjustments and they are blocking very well for us,” Rogers said.
When asked if the defensive effort has helped the offense, Rogers stated, “absolutely!”
In the third quarter, Stone connected on a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Attrail Snipes, Johnson kicked the extra point and the ‘Gades were in total command with a 34 point lead.
All that the visiting Raiders could muster before the fourth quarter was a 39-yard field goal by place-kicker Felipe Macias.
Rogers capped the scoring for the ‘Gades in the fourth quarter with a 39-yard run and Johnson added 41st point for BC.
Moorpark finally scored a consolation touchdown in the final 10 minutes making the final score 41-10.
Besides big plays and offensive production, the BC defense played tough pounding the Raiders in the trenches. The Raider quarterbacks were intercepted 5 times. Two picks by defensive back Kenny Graham and three by free safety Brian Putman.
“It feels great to make the plays,” Putman said.
“It’s all about team defense. The defensive line applies the pressure up front and we are able to make the plays in the secondary.”
The ‘Gades will have to make the plays on Saturday as they will face a tough Allan Hancock team in Santa Maria on Saturday.
A loss could hurt their chances of a berth in the Golden Empire Bowl, while a victory would secure the playoff berth. Game time is at 7 p.m.