The final regular-season Bakersfield College football game required a performance necessary of erasing yet another close loss and a desire to finish above .500 record wise and be in line for a postseason berth.
The Renegades, trailed early, but turned it on in the second half to cruise to a 40-17 victory Saturday night over Santa Barbara at Memorial Stadium.
David Smith’s 1-yard run late in the second quarter gave BC a 13-10 lead at halftime and the team never relinquished it. The Renegades (6-4 overall, 4-3 in conference) scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to fend off any comeback by the Vaqueros.
BC quarterback Malachi Statler was 16-of-20 for 184 yards with touchdown throws to Mekhi Smith and Ja’Daniels Nettles, Jalen Hankins rushed 13 times for 71 yards and two scores. BC kicker Carlos Villa missed on his first extra-point kick of the game, but came back with four successful kicks and he made field goals from 27 and 29 yards in the fourth quarter.
Santa Barbara (3-7, 2-5) opened the scoring on a 38-yard pass play from Benni Collins to Tyreke Fortney. Nettles caught a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-6. Santa Barbara increased its lead to 10-6 on Jackson Smith’s 43-yard field goal. David Smith’s touchdown to give BC the lead for good came with 54 seconds left in the second quarter.
Defensively, BC was strong, holding the Vaqueros to 204 total yards of offense, including only 22 rushing yards. BC intercepted the ball twice and recovered one of three fumbles.
BC now awaits word if it will be placed in a postseason bowl that will be played this Saturday. The Renegades played in the Patriotic Bowl last season and lost 31-27 to East Los Angeles.
