Furious Comeback Falls Short, Hancock Drops Opener 22-19 to Bakersfield

Matt Albright connected for two touchdown passes to lead a furious charge in the fourth quarter, but the comeback fell short as the Allan Hancock College football team dropped its season opener at home 22-19 to Bakersfield on Saturday. The Renegades led from the start to finish, and held on for the victory.

The Bulldogs trailed 16-0 to start the third quarter when the team came to life. Freshman Thomas Leggett intercepted a Dalton Gallis pass on the Renegades' opening drive.  After Bakersfield intercepted a pass from Albright, Hancock regained possession of the ball when Kobi Smith-Parrott forced an Isiah Jones fumble and Patrick Graves recovered the loose ball. The Bulldogs cashed in by going 37 yards on four plays capped by a one-yard run by sophomore running back Shaq Autry to get on the board trailing 16-6 midway through the third quarter.

Bakersfield regained a 22-6 lead on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Gallis to Jakell Tomlin late in the third quarter.  Bakersfield's two-point conversion failed, so Hancock trailed by 16 points to open the fourth quarter.

On its second drive of the fourth quarter, Hancock marched 79 yards on 12 plays capped by a 21-yard touchdown strike from Albright to Alex Cecchi, a freshman receiver and Arroyo Grande High School graduate. Hancock trailed 22-12 after a two-point conversion failed. The Hancock defense forced a Bakersfield punt to give the offense another chance.  Albright connected with Nick Kimball for an eight-yard touchdown to cap a six-play, 70-yard drive that brought the Bulldogs to within three points at 22-19.  The touchdown was the first between Albright and Kimball since they combined to lead Nipomo High School to its first CIF championship in 2014.

With just 1:25 left in the game, Hancock went for the onside kick, but Bakersfield recovered and ran out the clock.

Albright finished the game 18 for 33 passing for 180 yards. He threw for two touchdowns, but was intercepted four times. Sophomore wide receiver Chris Barganier caught seven passes for 59 yards, while Cecchi had three for 66 yards and one touchdown. Kimball had 26 receiving yards and three catches, including a score. Norris Simmons also had two catches for 15 yards.

Hancock finished with 176 rushing yards, led by Autry, who had 100 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown. Tony Saintmelus, a freshman from Germany, added 71 yards on 15 carries.

Hancock led in nearly every offensive category, including total offense (356 yards to 240 for Bakersfield), first downs (20 to 12), third-down efficiency (50 percent to 31 percent), passing yards (180 to 154) and rushing yards (176 to 86.) The key difference was Hancock turned over the ball six times, four on interceptions, and two on fumbles. Bakersfield turned it over twice.

Defensively, Graves led the Bulldogs with 10 tackles. The sophomore linebacker also recovered a fumble and recorded 2.5 tackles for loss. Leggett added seven tackles and one interception. Freshman linebacker Dominic Chance, an Atascadero High School graduate, finished with six tackles.

The Renegades carried a 16-0 lead into halftime. Derrick Vickers scored on a 44-yard run midway through the first quarter to give Bakersfield a 7-0 lead. He scored on Bakersfield's first drive of the second quarter on a four-yard run. Hancock's Connor Epley blocked the point after attempt to hold Bakersfield to a 13-0 advantage. Bakersfield capped a seven-play drive with a 33-yard field goal by Jacob Young to extend its lead to 16-0 late in the second quarter. Bakersfield held Hancock scoreless in the first 30 minutes behind three interceptions, including one in its endzone on the Bulldogs' first drive of the game.

Hancock will look to get back on track Saturday, Sept. 10, at East Los Angeles College. Kickoff will be at 4 p.m.