Football Drops Close Game on the Road

Kicker Nathan De Jager converted all three field goal attempts against Golden West.
Kicker Nathan De Jager converted all three field goal attempts against Golden West.

Huntington Beach, CA  - The Renegade football team traveled south to Orange County on Saturday for a non-conference game against the Golden West Rustlers and ended up on the losing side of a defensive battle, 11-13. The Renegades had many chances to score, but had too many drives that stalled in the red zone.

BC was the first to get on the board after their first offensive drive stalled on the 5 yard line leading to a 23 yard field goal by Nathan De Jager to go up, 3-0. At the end of the first quarter, the Rustlers drove 80 yards in 9 plays to score the first touchdown of the day, but missed the ensuing extra point to take the lead, 3-6.

The Renegades were able to even up the scoring at 6-6 in the 2nd quarter when another drive stalled in the red zone and Nathan De Jager converted another field goal, this time from only 21 yards out. At halftime, the score remained even.

BC was forced to settle for a 35 yard De Jager field goal yet again mid-way through the 3rd quarter on yet another stalled drive into Rustler territory. Early in the fourth Golden West engineered a 7 play 78 yard drive that was capped on a 2 yard run by Wulfe Retzlaff. The extra point was good and Golden West took the lead back at 13-9.

BC quarterback Josh Medina exited the game with a leg injury midway through the 4th quarter and in to replace him came newcomer Jacob Irby. Irby was unable to lead the Renegades into the end zone and exchanged punts with the Rustlers a number of times. With under a minute to go in the game the Rustlers found themselves punting out of the back of their own end zone and decided to take the safety and cut their lead to 11-13 and give the ball back to BC with 44 seconds left to play. The Renegades were unable to advance the ball down the field and the game ended with the Rustlers pulling out a close victory.

The Renegade defense was strong throughout the game, especially in the fourth quarter, forcing many Rustler punts. Both LJ Early and Jalen Simpkins had interceptions during the game stopping two Golden West drives.

The Renegades will be at home this coming Saturday 9/29 for a match-up against Orange Coast College at 6pm in Memorial Stadium.

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Football vs. Golden West