Dreams do come true for Kilgore, 'Gades
| Saturday, Sep 19 2009 11:01 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Sep 19 2009 11:03 PM
SANTA MONICA -- Saturday night was the kind of night a quarterback can only dream about.
But it happened in real life to Bakersfield College's Logan Kilgore.
Kilgore completed 14 of 15 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns to help the Renegades roll past Santa Monica College, 43-0, in a non-conference game at Santa Monica.
"We had a great game plan," said Kilgore, who also had a 1-yard touchdown run in helping BC improve to 3-0. "We wanted to control the ball and make sure we had no turnovers. That was the biggest thing. Anytime you win the turnover battle, you'll win the game."
Kilgore threw a perfect 34-yard TD pass to wide receiver William Randle, hitting him in stride as Randle crossed the goal line behind the Corsairs' defense.
He added touchdown passes of 30 and 23 yards to Rashard Matthews in the third quarter that helped break the game open.
The 6-foot-1 Matthews outjumped 5-10 Santa Monica cornerback Ian Delizo with 10:44 left in the third quarter to extend what had been a 16-0 halftime lead.
The 23-yard TD pass to Matthews was reminiscent of what San Francisco 49er fans saw from Joe Montana in his heyday.
Kilgore rolled out to his right and used his left hand to motion a well-defended Matthews toward the middle of the field. A crisp pass hit Matthews in stride at the 15 and Matthews used some nifty footwork to elude would-be tacklers to score.
On another drive, Kilgore also completed a 35-yard pass to tight end Nathan Stevens to reach the Corsairs' 8-yard line. Kilgore ended that drive with his 1-yard TD run.
"One of the things we've talked about is throwing the deep ball," BC coach Jeff Chudy said. "Without a doubt he threw the deep ball better tonight.
"He threw a nice ball to Rischard and Randle caught that one on the post, and the tight end caught one in the seam. That's what you have to take advantage of. It was good for Logan. He kept his eyes downfield."
The BC defense has been a team strength throughout the 3-0 start. Santa Monica (0-3) has struggled offensively all season. The Corsairs have been outscored 153-30 this season, including 109-2 in their last two losses.
"For those guys to have the ability to sustain something with any consistency would have been tough," Chudy said. "They've had a tough time doing that, and up front we're as good as anyone you'll see at our level."
The Corsairs finished with only 32 net rushing yards and only 100 passing yards. Santa Monica's starting quarterback Zach Scribner struggled, completing only 11-of-29 passes for 79 yards.
BC's running game took awhile to get going - the Renegades had only 76 rushing yards at halftime and 130 through three quarters.
The Renegades' top back, Andre Smith, missed his second straight game after suffering an ankle injury in the season-opening win over Fresno. Also missing the game was Eric Jones, who had an ankle injury in the win over L.A. Valley seven days earlier.
Julian Dean-Johnson, who had only one yard before the final play of the third quarter, led BC's rushers with 83 yards on eight carries. He had a spectacular 23-yard run to the 1-yard line, then scored his first collegiate touchdown on the next play.
Ben Estill had 70 rushing yards and Keldon Hampton had 50 yards.
Matthews had five catches for 76 yards and Randle had four catches for 75 yards.
BC plays at traditional Southern California power El Camino next Saturday night. El Camino improved to 3-0 by beating Compton 57-0.
