Times Staff

This isn't the start the Bakersfield College football team had in mind.

The traditionally highly regarded Renegades are 1-4. Granted, their loses have come by a combined 16 points, but they're 1-4.

They'll try to right their ship in a 7 p.m. game tonight against Hancock College's squad at Bakersfield. The Bulldogs are 3-2 overall. Both teams are 0-1 in the National Conference's Northern Division after dropping their division openers last week.

Bakersfield lost 31-28 to Pasadena. College of the Canyons, the JC Gridiron's Dirty 30 top-ranked team in the nation in its pre-season poll, jumped on the Bulldogs for the first 35 points. The Cougars won 42-21.

Bakersfield's stadium hasn't been particularly hospitable to the Bulldogs. They've won once there this decade.

The Renegades have a workhorse back this year, Bruce Frieson. He's racked up 639 yards, on 93 carries. Frieson has more than half of Bakersfield's 1,260 yards rushing.

Advertisement

Teammate Andre Smith Jr. is a big yardage threat. He has 319 yards, on just 27 carries.

Hancock will try to re-start its vaunted running game, which Canyons thwarted last week. Diondrea Bryant and Thomas Sua have been the main guys for the Hancock rushing game this year.

Bryant has 576 yards, on 88 carries. Sua's run the ball 57 times, for 316 yards. Sua's a St. Joseph High School graduate who sat out last year.

Bakersfield's passing game has been decent but unspectacular. Quarterback Nick Gauthier has thrown for 600 yards. He's thrown five touchdown passes and been picked off five times.

Hancock quarterback Eric Anderwkavich has moved the team well. His best consistent passing game has been the short one, but he's hit some deep throws too.

Defensive backs Lamar Allen and Lompoc High School graduate Tim Ochoa help lead Hancock's defense. Allen leads the team in tackles, with 22 solos and 12 assists.

Oct. 11, 2008