Top-Ranked Bakersfield Beats Pierce for 18th Straight WSC Win

When it works, the run-and-shoot makes for exciting football. When it doesn’t, it degenerates into what Pierce College showed Saturday night at home.

About the only shooting the Brahmas did was at their feet, dropping a 49-12 decision to Bakersfield in a Western State Conference interdivisional game. Bakersfield (3-0, 2-0 in conference play), the top-ranked team in the state, had 463 yards and collected 35 first downs to win its 18th consecutive conference game.

Pierce (0-2, 0-1) had 206 yards, only 30 rushing.

And when the Brahmas passed, which was on virtually every play, the Bakersfield defense stopped them. Pierce quarterback David Muir completed 17 of 39 passes for 164 yards and completed only five passes for 10 or more yards.

Bakersfield running back George Jones gained 136 yards in 21 carries and scored two touchdowns. The sophomore entered the game with a conference-leading 301 yards rushing. One of his backfield partners in the Renegades’ option attack, Tommy Criner, rushed for 112 yards in 13 carries and scored once.

The Renegades held a 35-0 lead early in the fourth quarter before Pierce scored back-to-back touchdowns.

Pierce crossed the goal line on a four-yard run by Muir with 14 minutes 39 seconds left, and again with 10:15 remaining on a two-yard run by Ron McKelvey. Muir’s touchdown was set up by an 86-yard kickoff return by Rodney Williams to the Bakersfield four.

But Bakersfield, apparently believing that Pierce had gotten close enough, scored two more times.

The first came on a four-yard run by Criner with 6:15 to play, the second on a two-yard run by Matthew Johnson on his only carry.

Bakersfield wasted little time getting on the board. The Renegades marched 90 yards in nine plays and scored on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Deon Price to tight end Shannon Crabtree.

They added two more touchdowns on runs of six and two yards by George Jones in the second quarter for a 21-0 lead at the half. The touchdowns, both over left tackle, gave Jones 10 on the season.

Pierce wasted its best chance to score in the first half early in the second quarter.

The Brahmas drove to the Bakersfield seven, where they faced a third-and-five. But Muir was tackled by linebacker Chaundee Brown on an option-run around left end for a three-yard loss. Pierce then faked a 27-yard field-goal attempt and came away empty-handed when holder Williams was hammered by several defenders.