Renegades get saddle sore
| Monday, Sep 12 2011 10:29 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 10 2011 11:46 AM
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BC's QB Brian Burrell is sacked by Saddleback's # 56 Dustin Alewine early in their Monday game.
The ball pops loose from a Saddleback College runner as he is hit by BC's # 90 Armonti Yharbrough.
BC's # 59 Kenneth Dunston, left, and 31 Salim Cleghorne drop Saddleback runner #4 Rodney Woodland in the 2nd half of Monday night game.
BC's #29 Jalen Sykes gets a good kick return to get BC in good field position against Saddleback College.
The ball is just out of reach of BC defender # 8 Taiyon Jackson and Saddleback receiver # 4 Rodney Woodland is able to make the catch for a touchdown in their Monday night game.
BC QB Brian Burrell looks for the goal line as he is chased by Saddleback's Jason Kollock in the 2nd half of their game.
BC's # 91 Tanner Melson, left, and # 11 Keylon Hollis pressure Saddleback QB #11 Ben Gomez in their Monday game.
Former NFL star Howie Long watches the BC-Saddleback College game from the sidelines Monday.
Saddleback College had been looking forward to facing Bakersfield College ever since the second game last season when the Renegades dominated the second half in a come-from-behind win.
On Monday, Saddleback again gave up some points to BC in the second half. But this time, the Gauchos were able to match those scores and went on to a 31-17 win before 1,630 at Memorial Stadium.
The game, rescheduled from Saturday when a thunderstorm postponed the contest, was dominated by Saddleback. The Gauchos (2-0) had 478 yards in total offense and turned the Renegades (1-1) into a one-dimensional team.
"We're not one-dimensional," BC coach Jeff Chudy said. "If we are, and we can't run the ball, we're in trouble."
Freshman quarterback Brian Burrell was 19-of-34 passing for 291 yards and a touchdown, and he added a 1-yard TD run. But he was also sacked nine times for 60 yards in losses -- and he's been sacked 15 times in BC's first two games.
"Everything's an issue. We've got to block," Chudy said. "Our inexperience showed tonight. We're going through growing pains right now."
Saddleback led 14-0 at halftime, and the Renegades had minus-12 net rushing yards in the first two quarters.
Gaucho quarterback Ben Gomez was pressured only a handful of times and was sacked only twice. He was 24-of-44 for 305 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for 54 yards and a TD.
Gomez converted several passes when the Renegades appeared to have him sacked, but he escaped the pressure.
The Gauchos also got extra yardage numerous other times when the running backs or receivers stayed on their feet despite taking hard hits by the Renegade defense.
The BC runners were often swallowed up by the Saddleback defense before reaching the line of scrimmage.
"We didn't get anything going with any consistency," Chudy said.
In the first half, BC's best starting position was its own 30 and the Renegades had only one solid scoring opportunity when they reached the Saddleback 23. But Burrell was sacked for an 8-yard loss on third down and Chudy opted for a punt instead of a long field goal attempt.
BC scored all of its points in the third quarter. Burrell completed passes covering 37 and 38 yards to reach the Gauchos' 2 before another sack prompted a 25-yard field goal by Tyler Schleicher.
An interception by BC safety Tyler Dogins gave the Renegades possession at the Saddleback 29. Burrell ran for 28 yards, then muscled in from the half-yard line two plays later to make it 14-0.
Gomez threw a perfect pass to wideout Rodney Woodland for a 43-yard TD on the Gauchos' next possession, but BC came right back to score again on an 11-yard pass from Burrell to Brandon Hobdy.
That pulled BC within 21-17, but that's as close as it got. Woodland got a step on BC cornerback Mercy Maston for a 20-yard TD catch later in the third quarter to make it 28-17 and the Renegades did not cross midfield again.
BC travels to Lancaster to play Antelope Valley College on Saturday at 6 p.m.
"We'll get it fixed," Chudy said. "We've got guys who are very resilient."
