COC Runs Out of Gas in Loss to Bakersfield, 45-41

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The College of the Canyons Cougars overcame a 16-point halftime deficit, but fell short of a win in the final minutes to Bakersfield College, 45-41. Coming into Saturday's match up, the Cougars and Renegades were in a tie for first place in the Western State Conference Mountain Division, but it would be the Renegades finishing on top and winning their second consecutive conference championship.

COC was not able to hold Bakersfield on its first possession of the game. BC marched the ball 73 yards in 15 plays to post the first TD of the night on a one-yard carry by quarterback Jacob Bower at the 7:27 mark of the first quarter.

The Cougars responded with a quick 32-yard touchdown run by running back Raphael Reynolds with 5:54 left in the first quarter to even the score at 7-all.

The two squads would exchange two more touchdowns in the first quarter, but the extra point attempt on the Cougars' Bradford McClellan's 6-yard carry failed and Canyons fell behind by one point, 14-13.

BC scored again to start the second quarter and went up 21-13, which followed with the Cougars going three and out. Canyons defense finally got the stop they wanted as they held the Renegades at the COC 39-yard line and Bakersfield had to punt the ball away.

Starting on our own 10-yard line, the College of the Canyons made a 90-yard march down the field that was concluded by a 1-yard keeper by McClellan with 5:07 left in the first half. The Cougars' two point pass from McClellan failed, but inched COC closer, 21-19. 

Bakersfield ended the half with two more touchdowns, one that resulted from an interception by BC's Daron Mackey, and the Cougars left the field trailing the Renegades, 35-19.

Following the halftime break, the defense settled down and held BC scoreless in the third quarter, after Bakersfield had scored every time they touched the ball in the first half except on one occasion.

College of the Canyons took advantage of a lackluster Renegade defense as running back Fred Winborn scored on a 75-yard carry and a 3-yard run for his 15th and 16th touchdowns of the year. The two touchdowns put COC back in the game, 35-33.

The Renegades began the fourth quarter with their own field goal to widen their lead to five points, 38-33.

On the ensuing possession, COC could not mark a first down and punted the ball to Bakersfield. A mistake by the Renegades on the punt put the ball back in the hands of COC and set the Cougars up for another scoring drive.

With the game and the conference championship on the line, COC brought the ball to the Bakersfield 36-yard line on 4th and 18. The Cougars, who are now 7-of-9 on fourth down conversions went for it and got the first down when McClellan found Winborn for a 25-yard pass completion. McClellan finished the run with a 9-yard carry into the end zone that placed COC in the lead, 41-38, with 10:35 left in the game. 

Bakersfield scored on its following touch that gave the Renegades the advantage again, 45-41, with 5:36 to go. COC had one more chance to score but could not convert when McClellan's pass was picked off in the end zone with less than a minute on the clock.

The Cougars dropped to 8-2 overall, 6-1 in conference, and came in second place in the Western State Conference, Mountain Division. The Renegades improve to 10-0, 7-0 in conference.

As a team, COC tallied 451 (177 rushing and 274 passing) total offensive yards to Bakersfield's 491 (244 rushing and 246 passing). College of the Canyons also had 15 penalties for 145 yards on the night.

McClellan finished the night going 13-of-26 for 274 yards and had three rushing touchdowns. Winborn lead the running backs with 12 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns, while also recording four catches for 72 yards. Wide receiver Jovonne Augustus had four receptions for 87 yards.

Defensive back Marcus Udell had 10 tackles, nine solo, and linebacker Matt Brown gathered six unassisted tackles. Sophomore defensive back led the team with five pass breakups to go with his five solo tackles and linebacker Makana Atisanoe garnered 1.5 sacks for a loss of five yards.

The fourth-ranked Cougars return to action on Saturday, Nov. 17 as they host No. 5 Saddleback College in the Western State Conference Bowl. Kick off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The winner of the WSC Bowl will face the winner of the No. 1 Bakersfield College/No. 8 Desert Golden Empire Bowl on Nov. 24.