Bakersfield, CA (Football) -- Bakersfield College took advantage of 5 Citrus College turnovers, as they ran away with a 36-12 win over the Fighting Owls. Citrus gave the Renegades a tough time, but in the end stepped on their own feet, with too many costly mistakes.
"You can't defend the turnovers," said Head Coach Kevin Emerson. "We had to many of them tonight." Three of the five Owl turnovers resulted in touchdowns for the Renegades. The turnovers, and an inability to get the ball into the endzone proved to be the fatal flaw for the Fighting Owls, who came into the game as the #7 seed in the COA SoCal Playoffs. "Overall we played pretty well, we just couldn't get the ball into the endzone," Emerson said.
Coming out of the gate the Owl's were fired up and ready to go. In the opening kick-off Anthony Sutton returned the ball all the way to the Renegades 47 yard line giving the Owl's great field position. After moving the ball down to the 10 yard line, the Owl's were unable to punch the ball into the endzone, and settled for a 25 yard kick from Kirk Cabana giving them the early 3-0 lead.
The Owl's defense stepped up big, forcing a potent BC offense three and out. As the Owl's got the ball back, their turnover nightmare began on the first play of their second drive as quarterback Bryan Waggener's pass was picked off by BC. The Owl's defense would prove to be a stalwart once again forcing the Renegades into another 3 and out.
The Owl's and Renegades would trade possessions, until the Owl's got the ball back with just over a minute left in the 1st quarter, Waggener dropped back to pass, and was hit from behind fumbling the ball. The Renegades recovered the ball at the Citrus 25 yard line. On the ensuing drive, BC finally got on the board as running back JR Rogers got his 1st touchdown of the game.
The next possession Waggener threw his second pick of the game, and the Renegades would get another score from Rogers with the Owl's trailing 3-12 after two straight missed extra points. The Owl's would settle down on their ensuing possession, but still failed to make into to the endzone settling for another Cabana field goal, this one from 37 yards out. The Owl's would allow the Renegades to convert a field goal with 35 seconds left in the half, and went into half-time trailing 6-15.
Coming out of half-time, the Owl's converted an onside kick with Caleb Flores recovering the ball. The Owls would drive again, but yet again couldn't score a touchdown. Cabana came in for his third try of the game, but missed left on a 33 yard attempt. The Owl's defense would force the Renegades to another 3 and out, but on the ensuing punt Sutton misplayed the ball and fumbled, with the Renegades recovering.
The very next play, Rogers took off on a 45 yard touchdown score with three minutes and thirty-five seconds left in the 3rd quarter, and the Owl's trailing 6-22. The Renegades would score twice more, with one score coming off a punt return taken to the house. The Owl's, trailing 36-6, would finally get a touchdown on the board, as Waggener completed a 37 yard bomb to Mark Castaneda, but it was too little too late with 4:26 left in the game.
In the 36-12 loss, the Owl's shining moment came from the stellar play of Leonard Mason who ran for 158 yards and a 8.32 yards per rush average. Mason earned Outstanding Offensive Player of the Game honors for his effort. "Leonard is a great runner with great heart and great desire," Emerson said. "He's going to be fun to watch next year."
Sophomore, Waggener finished his career with a 17 for 29 performance for 187 yards. Waggener had 3 picks and 1 touchdown. Wide receiver Charles Lewis had 7 catches for 64 yards.
The Owl's finish their season with their heads high grabbing their 4th straight Western State Conference Championship. The Owl's finish their season 7-4, but a perfect 7-0 in WSC South play.
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