FOOTBALL FALLS OUT OF PLAYOFF CONTENTION WITH ROAD DEFEAT AT BAKERSFIELD

BAKERSFIELD-- In a game with a Southern California playoff spot at stake, the Allan Hancock College football team fell to Bakersfield College, 45-10, in the final Western State Conference game of the year.

Hancock (7-3, 5-2 WSC North) was able to move the ball offensively as they racked up 412 total yards, but they found difficulty scoring from the red zone. Meanwhile Bakersfield, with 523 yards, scored six times after drives of over 70 yards. The Renegades took the opening kick-off and drove 80 yards in four minutes to take a, 7-0 lead on a 29 yard touchdown pass. The Bulldogs seemed to be answering right back with a long drive themselves on the ensuing kick-off. Driving from their 20, AHC was knocking on the door when running back Anthony Melton had the ball stripped from his arms at the Bakersfield six yard line and BC recovered the fumble.

After a missed field goal by Hancock's Victor Velasco, Bakersfield made it 14-0, on another 29 yard TD pass early in the second quarter after a 79 yard, six play drive. In the second quarter as the Bulldogs were driving down the field, the Bakersfield defense stepped up in a big way at their own 30, stopping AHC on a third and one and a fourth in one. A defensive penalty against Hancock late in the quarter set up a 47 yard field goal by BC, making the halftime score, 17-0.

The Bulldogs began the third quarter driving down the field and setting up a 37 yard field goal by Velasco. Bakersfield answered right back with a quick 80 yard drive on six plays in just a minute and forty-three seconds. QB Thomas Perregin finished off the drive with his third TD pass of the day, a five yard pass to his tight end John Wise. The Renegades ended the scoring in the third on a five yard TD run, and ended the quarter with a, 31-3 lead.

After Bakersfield took a 38-3 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Hancock would finally find the end zone on a Jonathon Dally TD pass to wide receiver Derek Sedin at the 2:15 mark. BC scored a final time on an 87 yard TD pass and run from the back-up QB, Jeff Crosby to WR Ty Lee.

Melton (So., Delano, CA) rushed the ball 20 times for 94 yards. The leading runner for AHC was Shaun Stewart (Fr., Queens, NY) with 129 yards on 17 carries. Dally (Fr., Righetti HS) was 8-12 for 121 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The leading receiver was Sedin (So., Righetti) with six catches for 73 yards and a TD.

The Bulldogs will await Sunday's final ranking and bowl announcements to see what post-season bowl they would be invited to. Hancock will have earned bowl invitations in four of Kris Dutra's five years as the head coach at AHC.