'Gades defense stifles Ventura
| Saturday, Oct 31 2009 11:03 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Oct 31 2009 11:03 PM
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Casey Christie / The Californian Bakersfield College defensive lineman, Tyrone Crawford sacks Ventura's quarterback, Kenny Breaux, during second quarter action, Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
Casey Christie / The Californian BC's Ben Estill catches a touchdown pass in the second quarter in the end zone while Ventura's defensive back, Darrell Simmons, has no luck defending the touchdown catch, Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
Casey Christie / The Californian Ben Estill, slides in for the touchdown after making the catch, Saturday, at Memorial Stadium against two Ventura defenders.
Casey Christie / The Californian Ben Estill is congratulated by teammate, Gareth Brown, Saturday, night after Estill scored a touchdown, after catching a long pass against Ventura College in the end zone.
Casey Christie / The Californian BC's Rishard Matthews, almost makes the catch while Ventura's defender, Antwan Reed does his job, Saturday, at Memorial Stadium. The pass was incomplete.
Casey Christie / The Californian BC quarterback Logan Kilgore throws during the game Saturday against Ventura College.
Bakersfield College enjoyed another strong all-around game Saturday night as the Renegades sewed up at least a share of the Northern National Conference football title.
The Renegades shut down Ventura's offense and moved the ball efficiently on offense in a 44-14 win, improving their record to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the NNC. Ventura, unbeaten in NCC play before Saturday, is 6-2 and 3-1.
"Our guys came out and did a great job," said BC coach Jeff Chudy. "We jumped on 'em early and we kept playing. Early on we didn't score touchdowns but we scored points, and that plays with your psyche."
Josh Gallington had field goals of 35 and 46 yards in the first quarter and added another 46-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Ventura never got past the BC 28 until the Pirates finally scored with 11:19 left in the game on a 4-yard run by Nick Karam. BC had a 41-0 lead at the time.
Ben Estill ran for 96 yards on 12 carries, with a 7-yard TD run, and he added a 33-yard touchdown catch from Logan Kilgore.
Kilgore, BC's freshman quarterback, had only 39 passing yards until he hit Estill with the touchdown pass with 2:44 left in the second quarter.
Kilgore was 6-for-6 passing for 125 yards in the third quarter and finished with 213 yards on 14-of-20 passing.
"We knew we had to take what they gave us," said Kilgore, referring to his 140 passing yards in the second half. "We knew our offensive line would give us time. We were clicking on all cylinders."
Tight end Nathan Stevens had two touchdown catches, for 22 and 15 yards. He has six receptions this season and four touchdown catches.
"Our offensive line did a great job protecting our quarterback and our quarterback made some nice throws," Chudy said. "And look who caught the balls (eight different receivers). He spread it around.
"And defensively, we held them scoreless until the fourth quarter."
BC limited Ventura to 75 net yards and four first downs in the first half.
The Pirates are led by quarterback Antavius Sims, who has rushed for nine touchdowns and has four TD passes. But Sims, who suffered a leg injury one week earlier against Canyons, was pulled from the game late in the second quarter and didn't return. He finished with 21 rushing yards and 23 passing yards.
"We didn't prepare on whether they had Sims or not," Chudy said. "Our guys aren't thinking about who is or isn't playing. Their main thing is being in the right spot and making the right reads."
Ventura came into the game allowing only an average of 49 rushing yards a game. BC had 62 in the first quarter and finished with 214.
Estill's TD catch extended what had been a 13-0 lead. That score capped a drive kept alive when a Ventura blocker touched a BC punt near midfield for a fumble, which was recovered by the Renegades' Yul Hawkins.
The Pirates were missing cornerback Travaun Nixon, the state interception leader, who suffered a foot injury one week earlier against Canyons. Nixon reportedly underwent surgery on Friday and did not make the trip.
