Offense silenced as Pirates fall to Renegades

COSTA MESA -- For the second week in a row, the Orange Coast College football team struggled to find the end zone as the Pirates fell to visiting Bakersfield, 28-3, on Saturday night in side LeBard Stadium.

For the second week in a row, the Pirates (1-4) could not find the end zone as the Renegades (2-3) used a pair of late first-half touchdowns to cease control of the contest.

BC took the opening possession and wrapped up an eight-play, 55-yard scoring drive with a 5-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Martin, putting the guests up, 7-0.

It stayed that way until the final five minutes of the second quarter, when Kieren Spradlin ripped a 50-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 7-3. It was just the sixth made field goal of 50 yards or more in the 71-year history of OCC football, with the last coming in 2011 (Jackson Dionne, 52 yards vs Southwestern).

But the Renegades grabbed control of things with two crucial drives to end the first half. First, BC marched down the field and made it 14-3 when Braden Wingle found Isaiah Martin on a 27-yard touchdown strike with 1:36 remaining.

OCC tried to answer back, but the Renegades forced a fumble by the Pirates an BC's Brock Mather recovered the ball at the OCC 38-yard line. Wingle returned to the field and hit three straight open targets, the final one resulting in a 16-yard touchdown to Labrevon Austin with 30 seconds left, giving the Renegades a 21-3 lead into halftime.

After a scoreless and punt-filled third quarter for both teams, Bakersfield capped of a six-play, 45-yard drive when Wingle kept the ball and plowed into the end zone from a yard out.

OCC quarterback Adam Carr finished night with 131 passing yards and two interceptions on 16-of-30 passing, with Edwin LaCross (four catches, 42 yards) being his top target. 

Wingle finished with 175 passing yards and two TDs on 16-of-22 passing, while Isaiah Martin rushed for 92 yards on 19 carries for Bakersfield. 

On defense, sophomore standout Zeke Alleman was all over the field and recorded 14 tackles (nine solo) with three tackles for loss. Chris Castillo added eight tackes (four solo) with a sack, while I'Jon Akahi (one forced fumble) and Adrian Rosales (one sack) each had seven tackles.

Coast will get healed up with the bye week before opening up conference play at Golden West College on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. in the annual "Battle of the Bell" game.