Football Falls To Bakersfield 33-22

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Going into Saturday night's game against conference foe Bakersfield College, head coach Chuck Lyon and his team knew they needed a win to improve their record –and their morale.

Unfortunately, key mistakes in the fourth quarter by the Cougars, (1-2, 1-4), led to a breakdown in the Cougar defense and allowed the Bakersfield Renegades (3-0, 4-1) to earn the win, 33-22.

The loss continued Bakersfield's three-game winning steak and lengthened the Cougars' losing streak to two games. Fortunately for COC, next weekend the team has a bye in the schedule, and will have time to regroup before taking on leading WSC South team Citrus College at home.

The Cougars repeated with another strong start. Kicker Chris Chalmers punted the ball 43 yards, ending the Cougars first drive of the game. With the ball on the Renegades' five-yard line, defensive lineman Chad Landry recovered a Bakersfield fumble for a touchdown. The extra point by Paul Weinstein put the Cougars up 7-0 with 10:50 left in the first quarter.

As Bakersfield struggled to muster its offense, Andrew Miramontes and Terence Scott connected for a 37-yard touchdown reception on first and 10, after a punt by Bakersfield that put COC in excellent scoring position. The extra point from Weinstein failed, but still had the Cougars in the lead 13-0 and 8:50 left in the first.

The next play, Bakersfield's TJ Lee returned a kickoff 99-yards for a touchdown, closing the gap in the Cougar lead, 13-7.

COC closed the quarter with a 35-yard field goal by Weinstein, placing the Cougars up by nine, 16-7.

College of the Canyons saw the lead dwindle in the second quarter as they were held scoreless and Bakersfield scored a field goal with 4:48 left in the half. The dagger came in the last seconds of the half when running back Brian Stuart fumbled the ball and the Renegades' Kenny Graham recovered the ball on the Cougars' own 30-yard line. Three plays later and 23 seconds left in the game, Bakersfield quarterback Cody Stone connected with Brandon Banks for a 15-yard touchdown pass. The extra point by Will Johnson placed Bakersfield up by one, 17-16.

Out of the halftime break, the Cougars received a small break when Bakersfield missed a 47-yard field goal. With 4:18 left, the Cougars scored again. Back-up quarterback Ryan Whitcomb fumbled the ball at the one-yard line on the QB sneak, and offensive lineman Joey Muilli recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. With COC up by five, 22-17, the Cougars went for two, but the pass by Miramontes was incomplete.

Bakersfield scored on the next drive as Stone and Banks connected again. This time on an 80-yard pass with 3:44 left in the third and giving the Renegades a 23-22 lead over the Cougars.

Heading into the fourth, COC's Roosevelt Monroe-Truitt intercepted the ball with 13:42 left in the game. The offense couldn't capitalize on the turnover and Bakersfield went on to score on a 42-yard field goal at the 5:21 mark.

With the Renegades up 26-22, COC had one more drive to get into the end zone. The Renegade defense was ready for anything the Cougars had in mind as Keith Thompson intercepted the ball in COC's end zone for a touchback.

Bakersfield seized the opportunity and scored one more touchdown on a 48-yard run by Pat Patterson, ending the game with a 33-22 score.

As a team, COC was held to only 64 yards rushing and only 269 offensive yards.

Miramontes finished the night going 14-of-33 for 205 yards and one touchdown. Scott had another 100-yard night. He had six receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown. Thomas Kyle returned four kickoffs for 120 yards and Chalmers had six punts for 237 yards.

Darius Clarke led the defense with 5 tackles, four unassisted, and Steve Cenatus had two sacks and four tackles. Derrick Onwuachi and David Gross both had a sack on the night.