Ventura, CA – Facing their second top 10 team in a row, Bakersfield College football team nearly upset number two ranked Ventura College (7-0) before falling to the Pirates 23-17.
The Renegades went on the board from the first possession of the game, an eight-play 62-yard drive as wide receiver Isaac Jernagin's 2-yard rush into the endzone, and Peter Delis' PAT put BC up 7-0. The Pirates, on their first possession, drove to Bakersfield's 34-yard line but missed on a 42-yard field goal attempt. Shortly after a BC punt, Ventura drove 78 yards culminating with an 11-yard touchdown pass. A successful PAT knotted the score at 7
Trading turnovers late in the first quarter and early in the second, the Pirates converted on a 42-yard field goal to increase their lead to 10-7. VC would then find themselves adding to their lead with another BC possession that ended with a punt, aided by a 15-yard personal foul, late hit out of bounds penalty against BC, to score on a seven-yard touchdown pass, 17-7.
After receiving the kickoff, Bakersfield started the final drive of the first half from their own 12-yard line with 2:56 remaining. A couple of completions, including one for 20 and 13 yards, took the Renegades to the Pirates 12-yard line before the drive stalled. Delis' 28-yard field goal attempt was wide left but on the fourth-down play, the Pirates were flagged for a personal foul for hurdling. The ball was placed on VC's 6-yard line with under a minute on the clock. On the third down, quarterback Dexter Frampton was sacked for a loss with 16 seconds and counting down. With no timeouts at their disposal, the field goal unit hustled into position and was able to snap the ball with one second on the clock. The 32-yard FG was good and the Gades trailed 17-10 going into halftime.
In the third quarter, after a Ventura punt, BC started a drive from their own 35-yard line. Frampton aided to Jernagin's 56-yard completion, and the Gades drove to the Pirates 11. Delis' FG was good however VC was called for offsides on the play. On a fourth and one, Bakersfield elected to go for the touchdown and Jernagin took a pitch pass into the endzone for the touchdown and knotted at 17. With six seconds in the third remaining, Ventura was successful on a 31-field goal and took a 20-17 lead.
Fourth-quarter, the Gades sacked quarterback Jacob Pachot for a loss and a fourth and goal situation from the 21 which resulted in another Pirates field goal, making the score 23-17.
With 1:51 remaining in the game, Ventura took possession at Bakersfield's forty-five. The Pirates, on a fourth and two, decided to forgo kicking, to attempt to gain a first down which was unsuccessful. The play, a pitch from the quarterback to the running back was fumbled and BC recovered the ball on their own forty-six with 1:08 remaining in the game. A second-down pass interference call against the Pirates placed the ball at Ventura's 36-yard line and 35 seconds on the clock. Unfortunately, four consecutive passes fell incomplete, and Bakersfield turned the ball over on downs. VC took a knee for the game's final play.
The Renegades (4-3, 0-2) will return to Memorial Stadium next Saturday, November 3rd to take on the Long Beach City Vikings at 6 pm.
Stay connected with Renegade Athletics on social media. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
