'Gades lose top DL for season with knee injury
| Tuesday, Oct 27 2009 11:04 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Oct 27 2009 11:20 PM
Images
Michael Fagans / The Californian Bakersfield College's Maurice Hayes.
Michael Fagans / The Californian Bakersfield College's Maurice Hayes works on his technique with a teammate during practice on campus on Monday afternoon in Bakersfield.
Maurice Hayes' season is over.
The 6-foot-4, 317-pound sophomore defensive lineman for Bakersfield College suffered a right knee injury midway through the third quarter last Saturday night in BC's 49-3 win at Glendale College.
Hayes met with team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Tivnon on Tuesday and said he will undergo surgery next week.
Hayes said he has a torn medial and lateral miniscus and a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament.
"He told me it was pretty much everything in the knee," said Hayes, who had an MRI on Monday.
He added that he's never had a right knee injury before. Quickly undergoing surgery and then a rigorous physical therapy program could have Hayes ready to resume football in the spring, he said, "depending on how dedicated I am."
Hayes, from the Atlanta area, was being recruited by several Southeast Conference schools. He planned on committing to a school and completing his BC degree in December.
Now he said he's likely to remain in Bakersfield through the rehabilitation process.
BC also lost freshman special teams player Irving Gant on Saturday. Gant, a Bakersfield High graduate, suffered a broken ankle, head coach Jeff Chudy said.
Taking Hayes' starting spot will be sophomore Corey Wright (6-3, 275). Freshmen William Golston and Angel Posadas will see increased playing time, Chudy said.
"Losing Mo is a tough pill to swallow," Chudy said. "He's a great locker room guy, a very contageous personality, an excellent kid, a quality kid. That's what's tough about that deal."
A BC showdown Saturday
Saturday night the Renegades will play host to Ventura College in a matchup of teams undefeated in Northern National Conference play.
BC is 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the NNC. The only Renegade loss was 40-24 at top-ranked and currently undefeated El Camino on Sept. 26.
Ventura is 6-1 and 3-0. The Pirates' only loss was 36-35 against undefeated and No. 3-ranked Cerritos.
Ventura has allowed 13 or fewer points in five of its games. The Pirates beat perennial NCC power College of the Canyons 23-6 last Saturday. Canyons avoided the first shutout loss since football re-started there in 1998 with a touchdown inside the last three minutes.
BC lost at Ventura 34-17 last year.
Ventura quarterback Antavius Sims has thrown for 781 yards and four touchdowns, and he's rushed for 354 yards and nine TDs.
"They're sound in what they do," Chudy said. "Their quarterback gives you fits, an athletic, scrambling type of guy."
Among the defensive players to watch: Ventura cornerback Travaun Nixon leads the state with six interceptions.
BC No. 4 in SoCal
The Renegades dropped a spot to No. 4 in this week's Southern California poll, trailing No. 1 El Camino (7-0), No. 2 Cerritos (7-0) and No. 3 Mount San Antonio (6-1), which moved up from No. 5 last week after a 63-0 pasting of College of the Desert.
Chudy said he isn't concerned with that poll -- yet.
"We know if we win our conference we know we'll have a home playoff game," he said. "Our goal is to win our conference, and Ventura is a must-win game."
Chudy added: "The thing is, we control our own destiny. That's a great position to be in."
