'Gades reach milestone by beating Pierce
| Saturday, Sep 03 2011 11:03 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Sep 03 2011 11:09 PM
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BC's # 29 Jalen Sykes looks for some room to run during their game against LA Pierce Saturday.
BC's #17 Brandon Hobdy takes a reception in for a touchdown late in the 1st half in BC's game against LA Pierce Saturday night.
BC's quarterback Brian Burrell games some yards before being tripped up by LA Pierce # 4 Gerald Bowman early in their game Saturday.
BC's # 21 Tyler Dogins brings down LA Pierce # 22 Jayson Washington in their Saturday game.
BC's #95 Anthony Davis pressures LA Pierce QB #15 Jake Basmajian during the 1st half of their game Saturday.
It wasn't pretty, but it was an efficient night for Bakersfield College on Saturday.
The Renegades opened their season with a 32-19 win over Los Angeles Pierce College before 4,005 in Memorial Stadium. It was the 600th victory in school history for BC, dating back to 1922.
Freshman quarterback Brian Burrell threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns and the Renegades' defense shut down the Brahmas until Pierce scored two touchdowns in the final 3:19.
BC's defense contributed to a safety -- which was more the fault of Pierce because of a bad snap from center on a punt -- and a two-point return of a blocked PAT. Mercy Maston blocked the PAT and Tyrome Nelson returned it 89 yards for two points.
Pierce, an 8-3 team last season, also lost three third-quarter fumbles.
The Renegades had a 16-7 halftime lead thanks to some trickery and some big plays.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Brahmas took a 7-0 lead when quarterback Jake Basmajian completed a 52-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Smith with 10:13 left in the quarter.
On that play, Basmajian lauched a long pass that the 6-foot-3 Smith was able to pluck out of the hands of safety Jacob Adelman, who had inside position but was giving up 2 inches plus Smith's superior leaping ability.
But after that, the Renegades controlled the second period.
A play-action pass from quarterback Brian Burell to wide receiver Darius Tubbs picked up 37 yards to the Pierce 18. Burrell whipped another pass into traffic that Tubbs pulled down at the 6, and then it was time for some trickery.
Burrell took the snap and handed to wide receiver Brandon Hobdy, setting up an apparent end-around. But Hobdy stopped, pivoted and lofted a pass to tight end Emmanuel Ossai, who was all along at the goal line for a TD. Tyler Schleicher's PAT tied it 7-7 with 4:02 left.
The BC defense stiffened on Pierce's next possession, forcing a punt attempt from the Brahmas' 37. The snap sailed over the head of punter Brian Gutierrez and rolled into the end zone. Gutierrez batted the ball out of the end zone to avoid a potential BC touchdown, but it was a safety and put the Renegades ahead 9-7 with 2:32 left in the half.
BC took the subsequent free kick and Burrell fired a bullet downfield. Hobdy had gotten behind the derfense, made a leaping catch and outran the secondary to the end zone for a touchdown and 16-7 lead with 39 seconds left in the half.
Mustaafa Cobb increased BC's lead to 23-7 with a 32-yard touchdown run. That came on the first play after Pierce running back Josh Johnson lost a fumble, which was recovered by BC's Ridge James.
Burrell threw a 16-yard TD pass to Darius Tubbs with 11:39 left in the fourth quarter that made it 30-7 and basically put the game away.
Burrell finished 16-of-30 for 234 yards. Basmajian of Pierce, in his collegiate debut, was 23-of-37 for 310 yards and three TDs.
Hobdy caught eight passes for 148 yards in addition to his TD pass to Ossai.
