Hancock College football coach Kris Dutra believes his team/s focus and enthusiasm are back.

The Bulldogs, still reeling from a 27-26 upset loss to Ventura in their Western State Conference opener, took a 51-0 drilling on the road last Saturday night from College of the Canyons.

At least one publication rated Canyons the top junior college football team in the nation before the game. The Bulldogs were in no mood to argue that assessment afterward.

"We were still down after what had happened the last week," said Dutra. This week in practice, "The kids have rebounded. Everybody/s been doing what they/re supposed to do. There/s been no negativity." Dutra spoke after the team/s workout Wednesday.

Hancock will need all its focus when it tackles Bakersfield tonight. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Righetti High School/s Warrior Stadium.

The Renegades are off to a roaring start, 2-0 in the Western State Conference North Division and 4-0 overall. Hancock, 0-2, 2-2, likely needs to win to have any chance at a post-season bowl berth.

Some teams have friendly rivalries. The Hancock-Bakersfield rivalry is not one of those.

These unfriendly adversaries have been going at it on a yearly basis only since 1995, but the rivalry is intense. Hancock won at Bakersfield for the first time, 28-17, last season.

The Renegades go into this one with their characteristic beefiness on the offensive line. There the Renegades go "6-8, 340; 6-6, 275; 6-8, 325; 6-5, 345; 6-6, 304," Dutra read off.

For all that beef, the Renegades have liked the pass this season.

Through his team/s first three games (updated stats were not available at press time), Bakersfield quarterback Thomas Perregrin was the conference passing leader with 702 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. The Renegades defeated Los Angeles Valley College 31-16 last week.

Through the first three weeks, four Renegades receivers had caught at least seven passes. All four were averaging at least 11 yards a catch. Jonathan Nunez had 10 catches for 226 yards for the first three games, and Tajiddin Smith had 210 on 14.

Bakersfield has shown it can run the ball too, mainly with LaAndrew Mathews and Ricky Herod behind that big line.

The Bulldogs/ effort in practice may have been 100 percent this past week, but their physical condition is not.

Center Trevor Lady blew out his knee in practice before the Canyons game. He is gone for the season. Likewise with offensive tackle Eric Murchison, though the unanimous 2003 All-WSC selection did not play a down this year before he suffered a blown knee.

Dutra said starting offensive tackle Luis Espinoza is banged up, though he will try to go. Drew Williams, the fifth-leading rusher in the conference before the Canyons game, suffered a high ankle sprain then. However, Dutra said Wednesday that Williams will play tonight.

Oct. 3, 2004