After a convincing season opening 24-9 win against Santa Ana College, Bakersfield College has taken a major step back with two straight blowout losses to Mt. San Antonio College and Fullerton College.
BC was defeated by Fullerton 45-23 on Sept. 21. BC trailed by only eight points at the half and was down 17-9 but was outscored 28-14 in the second half. The win dropped the Renegades to 1-2 on the season and the Hornets remained unbeaten improving to 3-0.
Fullerton dominated BC on the ground rushing for 541 yards. Ryan Byrd and Lavorrie Johnson each combined for 474 yards including four touchdowns on the ground. Byrd was able to rush for a team high 273 yards on 25 carries; Johnson was able to carve up 201 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns.
Fullerton was able to score on its first play of the game after a three and out by the Renegades. Johnson broke out for a 49 yard run, putting his team up 7-0 in the first quarter.
After a 40 yard interception return by BC’s Brodie Scott, Byrd ripped BC on a 71 yard run to the end zone. The Hornets had five rushing touchdown plays that went 26 yards or more. BC quarterback Cruise Adams played a solid game for the Renegades completing eight out of 15 passes with 139 yards in the air with no interceptions. Darrik Martin also played at quarterback for BC completing only seven passes with 63 yards and an interception.
Adams’ only touchdown pass came in the fourth quarter when he and wide receiver Colin Spencer connected on a 23 yard strike.
On Sept. 14 BC opened up at home in front of a crowd of 4,134. Mt. Sac opened the game on a 95 yard kickoff return but was called back due to a holding penalty. 13 plays later, they found the end zone on a three yard rushing score by Jamal Overton. Mt. Sac scored 27 straight points and led 27-7 at the half and won the game 40-9.
Mt. Sac ran for 275 yards, Overton had 175 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Mt. Sac quarterback Rocky Moore completed 13 of 20 passes with 150 passing yards and a touchdown to Leonard Rhodes.
Besides the touchdown from Renegades running back Kwame Johnson BC had a miserable night offensively. Martin completed only eight of his 28 passes and went down late with a leg injury after a sack by a Mt. Sac player. With the game well out of hand Adams replaced Martin and went 0-for-2 passing before Martin would return.
The Renegades next game will be at home as they host Ventura College on Sept. 28. BC had a full parking lot of fans tailgating, listening to the game on the radio while also watching the Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez fight.