'Gades lose first game 31-26
Football team must contend with Saddleback College in first home game on Saturday.
Leanne Cave
Issue date: 9/7/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
The Bakersfield College football team will take on Saddleback College in its season home opener at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Saddleback is currently ranked No.1 in the National Division of the Western State Conference and expected to repeat as a postseason bowl contender as it opened their season with a 21-14 victory over a good Allan Hancock College team that is consistently in contention for postseason play.
"Saddleback is a very talented team," said BC head football coach Jeff Chudy. "They are the defending Southern California Region champions. They play the spread offense well, and they put a lot of pressure on you defensively."
In order for the Renegades to be successful against Saddleback, they will need to execute the game plan more consistently and take advantage of opportunities presented, something they didn't do in a 31-26 opening-season loss to Fullerton College on Sept. 4 in Fullerton.
In fact, it was kind of Murphy's Law for the 'Gades in the Fullerton game: anything that could go wrong, went wrong.
The game, originally scheduled for Saturday, had to be postponed until Sunday because of transportation difficulties and a brush fire in the Frazier Park area that shut down I-5 Saturday afternoon.
It looked as though it was business as usual on Sunday as the'Gades took the opening kickoff, drove the field and scored on a 34-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Thomas Peregrin to wideout Tajiddin Smith. The kick was good by Jose Martinez, and BC led 7-0. But Fullerton tied the score on a 3-yard pass form quarterback Casey Whieldon to Tim Merrill to tie the score, 7-7.
The second quarter was productive for the 'Gades as Peregrin tossed a 35-yard touchdown to Tyrece Lee Jr., and Martinez nailed a 40-yard field goal.
From this point on, things seem to unravel for the BC defense as the Hornets romped for 354 yards on the ground. Fullerton running back Joe Chatman did most of the damage by rushing for 251yards on 34 carries and two touchdowns. He had 171yards by halftime. Not only did Chatman run wild on the 'Gades, his touchdown runs of 26 and 24 yards in the second quarter put the Hornets up for good as they led 21-17 at halftime.
"Saddleback is a very talented team," said BC head football coach Jeff Chudy. "They are the defending Southern California Region champions. They play the spread offense well, and they put a lot of pressure on you defensively."
In order for the Renegades to be successful against Saddleback, they will need to execute the game plan more consistently and take advantage of opportunities presented, something they didn't do in a 31-26 opening-season loss to Fullerton College on Sept. 4 in Fullerton.
In fact, it was kind of Murphy's Law for the 'Gades in the Fullerton game: anything that could go wrong, went wrong.
The game, originally scheduled for Saturday, had to be postponed until Sunday because of transportation difficulties and a brush fire in the Frazier Park area that shut down I-5 Saturday afternoon.
It looked as though it was business as usual on Sunday as the'Gades took the opening kickoff, drove the field and scored on a 34-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Thomas Peregrin to wideout Tajiddin Smith. The kick was good by Jose Martinez, and BC led 7-0. But Fullerton tied the score on a 3-yard pass form quarterback Casey Whieldon to Tim Merrill to tie the score, 7-7.
The second quarter was productive for the 'Gades as Peregrin tossed a 35-yard touchdown to Tyrece Lee Jr., and Martinez nailed a 40-yard field goal.
From this point on, things seem to unravel for the BC defense as the Hornets romped for 354 yards on the ground. Fullerton running back Joe Chatman did most of the damage by rushing for 251yards on 34 carries and two touchdowns. He had 171yards by halftime. Not only did Chatman run wild on the 'Gades, his touchdown runs of 26 and 24 yards in the second quarter put the Hornets up for good as they led 21-17 at halftime.