LONG BEACH, CA - In a game where defenses ruled the first half and offenses came alive in the second, the Bakersfield College football team fell short with an overtime loss to Long Beach City College 23-17 Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Scoring in the first half was limited to a field goal by each team with kicker Tristin Skinner connecting on a 24-yarder for the Renegades in the first quarter. The Vikings then added their field goal in the second quarter tying the game at just three points apiece heading into halftime.
On their first possession of the second half, BC mixed pass plays and rushes on an 11-play, 69-yard drive. Quarterback Joseph Campbell's connected to wide receiver Jamal Thompson for a three-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to put the Gades up 10-3 at the 9:41 mark. With just over two minutes later, the Vikings tied the game at 10 with their own 3-yard touchdown.
In the 4th quarter, BC struck quickly with a 28-yard punt return from corner back Christopher Thompson to put Bakersfield at midfield. Campbell found sophomore Jihad Marks for a 50-yard touchdown pass giving the Renegades a 17-10 lead. Long Beach City had a close call on what could have been a game tying touchdown in the next possession but a penalty call on the Vikings kept Bakersfield ahead.
After trading punts, LBCC had the ball on their own 25-yard line with 2:34 remaining. The Vikings put together a 12-play drive that then resulted in the game tying touchdown with 8 seconds remaining in regulation.
In overtime, Campbell was sacked twice, and Skinner's 41-yard field goal attempt was wide left. The Vikings managed to win the game in just their first play with a 25-yeard touchdown.
The Renegades (4-4, 2-1) will travel to East LA College next Saturday then return home for their regular season home finale at Memorial Stadium, Saturday November 12 versus Hancock. Game time 4pm.
