After beating Ventura College one week before, the Bakersfield College football team was finally able to avenge past postseason defeats to Mt. San Antonio College by beating the Mounties 30-21 in the Southern California football championship game on Nov. 24.

“What a great win for us,” said BC coach Jeff Chudy. “Our guys played so passionately. We had the spirit of Doc Clerou on our helmets, who was probably the greatest Renegade of all time and our guys played like it.

“We got down early and made some mistakes, but we played with some emotion and we played how we have been playing for the past eight games and we keep getting better. Just can’t say enough of how we didn’t panic, we hung in there and it was a great win for us.

“To beat two undefeated teams in back-to-back weeks is great. Then to beat Mt. SAC, who has had our number the last couple of years and they did the same to us when we were 12-0 in 2007 and beat us in front of our home crowd, so I just can’t say enough how well our guys played.”

BC (10-2) had fallen to Mt. SAC three times in the playoffs in the past five years, and lost to the Mounties 34-13 in the second week of this season. With this win, not only did BC end Mt. SAC’s five-year run of So Cal championships and avenge both of their two losses they had this year, but now BC will host the State championship game against City College of San Francisco on Dec. 8.

“The idea that we got the opportunity to play a team that got our number early in the season and that we got to play them for a second time in the playoffs, it just doesn’t happen,” said Chudy, on the team avenging its two losses of the season.

Linebacker Grant Campbell commented on what it means to beat a team in the playoffs that beat them earlier in the year.

“We were pumped up all week for this matchup,” he said. “We had Ventura last week, and we got our revenge on them and now we wanted revenge on Mt. SAC.

“It’s a great feeling that we were able to beat both of them to get to State. It’s what you play for,” said Campbell.

BC started off the game on the wrong foot by turning the ball over twice in the first quarter, but their defense kept them in the game early and shut out the Mounties in the second half.

The Renegades started by forcing a punt after a quick three and out, but a muffed punt by returner and wide receiver Marquise Johnson led to an 8-yard touchdown run by Mounties running back Jamaal Overton. Then on the second play of BC’s second drive, running back Curtis McGregor fumbled the ball while fighting for extra yards. The Mounties got the ball at BC’s 25-yard line, but the Renegades defense stopped them, and led to a missed field goal by Mounties kicker Joseph Cejudo.

BC would find its stride on offense in the second quarter. The Renegades scored on a 27-yard field goal by kicker David Schleichler.

After a quick three and out by Mt. SAC, BC scored a touchdown on the fourth play of the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brian Burrell and gave the Renegades their first lead of the game.

But the Mounties would get it back with an 89-yard kick return for a touchdown by returner Kaelin Clay.

BC would take back the lead with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Burrell to Johnson, but after another Mounties touchdown, the Renegades trailed at halftime 21-17.

Defensive end Keylon Hollis, who had eight tackles and two sacks, explained that Chudy told them at halftime to not give up.

“Coach told us at halftime that we can’t give up, we’re not bitches,” he said.

BC’s defense continued its strong play in the second half by keeping the team within four points, and then in the fourth quarter took the lead back on a 12-play drive that was capped off by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Burrell to Johnson.

The Mounties managed to block the point after.

The Renegades defense once again stopped the Mounties offense, and BC’s offense would score another touchdown, only this time it was a 7-yard pass from Burrell to tight end Mike Dunn to give BC a 30-21 lead.

“I was just really glad that Brian found me, and that I held onto it,” said Dunn.

Mt. SAC tried to drive down one more time to cut into the lead, but quarterback Nick Montana, who is the son of Hall of Famer Joe Montana, threw an interception, and BC was able to run out the clock.

Burrell threw for 212 yards on 18-of-33 passing.

He also had three passing touchdowns and one rushing. Johnson led the team in receiving with 120 yards and two touchdowns on six catches, and was named the game’s MVP.

Mt. SAC had 310 rushing yards in the regular-season meeting, but in this game the defense held the Mounties to only 330 offensive yards.

Campbell commented on the performance by the defense.

“I think this is our best game of the year by far,” he said. “It was a team effort and we just came as a unit tonight.

“Our second-half adjustments were great by our coaches and we shut them out.”

Burrell, who was awarded the Offensive Player of the Game, commented on the team’s performance.

“It was a great team effort, so it always feels good when everybody plays well,” he said.