BC faces tough football matchup with visiting El Camino on Saturday
Sep. 29—It's been six years, but the memory of Bakersfield College's comeback victory over El Camino College has stood the test of time.
The Renegades scored 14 points in just over a minute to erase a 10-point deficit to rally for a 21-17 victory in a battle of 3-1 teams.
The teams are 3-1 again when they meet on Saturday in a National Northern Conference game at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The Warriors, fresh off a 65-29 victory over Moorpark last week, figure to be the Renegades' toughest test in the past month.
El Camino is ranked ninth in the CCCSIA poll and 13th by JCAB, with its only loss coming at state-power Riverside City in Week 3, 45-6.
The Warriors have averaged nearly 50 points in its three victories, with three different quarterbacks taking snaps and combining for 1,198 yards and 10 touchdowns, and three running backs compiling 518 yards and seven scores.
Bakersfield, which is ranked 16th by the JCAB and 20th in the CCSIA poll, is looking for its fourth straight victory after losing its season opener to No. 8 Golden West, 48-23.
The Renegades have relied on a balanced offensive attack featuring redshirt-freshman quarterback Carson Woods from Liberty and his former Patriots teammate Jalen Hankins leading the running attack.
Woods has thrown for 874 yards and seven touchdowns, completing 65% of his passes, while Hankins has a team-high 234 yards rushing and a score, and also has 11 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Norwood has rushed for 207 yards and two TDs.
Former BHS and West High standout Daylon Leach has 19 catches to lead BC's receiving corps, with Garces graduate Dom D'Amato has contributed 14 catches for 271 yards and two scores. Leach also has 237 return yards.
But it all starts with the defense for the 'Gades, with linebackers Miles Poole, Logan Bowers and Donovan Foster combining for 45 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss, and four sacks. Foster returned an interception 77 yards for a score two weeks ago to cap the scoring in a 43-20 win over San Bernardino Valley. Jakwon Lamb opened the scoring in that game with a 59-yard pick-6.
Last week, Bowers blocked an extra point and returned it 97 yards for two points in what proved to be the difference in a 22-19 victory over Antelope Valley. BC has five sacks in each of the last two weeks, holding its opponents to 19.5 points a game.
Poole, Hugo Camacho, Kaelan Smith and Will Kanavalov each have two sacks apiece this season.
