Bakersfield Passes Test Easily, 44-6 : Loss Eliminates Valley From Bowl Contention

BAKERSFIELD — This game was supposed to be different--a test for a Bakersfield team that had played a schedule void of match-ups against tough Glendale or Moorpark because of a quirk in the divisional alignments of the Western State Conference.

Instead, Saturday night’s game against Valley was nothing more than a formality as the unbeaten Renegades romped to a 44-6 win before a crowd of 8,127 at Memorial Stadium in Bakersfield.

Bakersfield, ranked second in the state by the JC Athletic Bureau and third in the nation by the JC Grid-Wire, finished the regular season 10-0, 9-0 in the WSC.

The loss knocked Valley (6-4, 6-3) out of contention for a spot as the Southern Division representative in the WSC Bowl. Meanwhile, Bakersfield will ready itself for a date with unbeaten Fullerton, which is ranked first in the state and second in the the nation, in the 37th Shriner’s Potato Bowl on Dec. 3 in Bakersfield.

“They’ve got a lot of good football players,” Valley Coach Chuck Ferrero said. “We had a lot of people injured 2 games ago and we just ran out of bodies.”

The Renegades, who entered the game averaging 48 points an outing, outgained Valley, 448 yards to 213.

Bakersfield quarterback Stan Greene, a sophomore, completed 18 of 30 passes for 311 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Wide receiver Linzy Collins caught 6 passes for 137 yards, including touchdown receptions of 37, 40 and 15 yards to give him 13 scores for the season.

Valley looked like it was going to go into halftime down just 3-0, but the Monarchs gave up 2 touchdowns in the last 1:27 and went to the locker room trailing, 17-0.

“The dam just broke,” Fererro said.

The Monarchs’ downfall started with about 1:30 left in the half when tailback Roman Carter quick-kicked on third and 19 from Valley’s 9.

Bakersfield wasted little time taking advantage of the opportunity. On first down from the Valley 37, Greene dropped back, pump faked, and then hit Collins down the right sideline for a touchdown.

Valley’s ensuing possession began at its own 29, but Todd Studer’s first-down pass was intercepted by linebacker Devonne Edwards at the 44 and the Renegades started to roll.

Following a personal-foul penalty against Valley, Greene connected with Collins on a 26-yard pass and, 2 plays later, hit tight end Lionel Sykes with a 5-yard touchdown pass to complete the first-half scoring.

Greene opened the second half with consecutive completions of 30, 6 and 40 yards--he last of which resulted in a touchdown to Collins--and the rout was on.

Studer completed 11 of 30 passes for 116 yards and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Davis with 1:03 left for Valley’s only touchdown. Studer also had 3 passes intercepted.