Football Downs Bakersfield in Home Opener

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College opened its 2022 campaign with an impressive 30-20 non-league victory over visiting Bakersfield on Saturday night at Murdock Stadium.

The Warriors (1-0) posted nearly 500 yards of total offense and scored 27 straight points to erase a double-digit deficit and score the victory over the Renegades (1-1).

As a team, the Warriors rushed for 227 yards on 51 attempts while the defense held the opposing run attack to just 85 yards on 35 carries with nearly half of those yards (30) coming on the Bakersfield's final drive of the game in which time expired.

The Renegades jumped out to a 13-3 lead after 15:02 of action with a pair of touchdown passes from Joseph Campbell to Jihad Marks. But it was all ECC after that as they scored two touchdowns in the second quarter to jump ahead at halftime and then two more touchdowns to take a 30-13 lead with 14:55 left in regulation.

Kijjon Foots made his Warriors debut at quarterback and was outstanding, going 22-for-27 for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He tossed scoring passes to Bray Weems, Brenden Hodge and Joshua Lorick as 10 different receivers hauled in a catch on Saturday night.

Weems led all ECC receivers with 55 yards while Hodge had 43 and Lorick added 40.

The ground attack was just as fierce with Brian Santana-Fis leading the charge, racking up 96 yards on just 13 carries. Marceese Yetts added 62 yards on just eight attempts.

The turning point in the game came in the fourth quarter as the Renegades were putting together a solid drive after falling behind 30-13. They drove the ball to the ECC 20 in less than a minute and looked poised to cut the deficit. But Campbell fumbled in the backfield on a scrambling attempt without being touched and Kione Carey fell on the ball at the 23 to give the Warriors possession and kill a possible scoring drive.

The Warriors defense did the rest, keeping the Renegades out of the end zone on two of their last three drives to secure the win.

Sophomore Lando Brown led the way defensively with nine tackles and recorded three sacks and four tackles for a loss. Keith Morgan Jr., Koa Carroll and Omar Ibanez added eight tackles each and Jonathan Johnson had five with one interception.

The Warriors return to action next week when they take on Ventura in a road contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.