Pierce Unable to Contain Renteria in Loss

Pierce College had the scouting report on Santa Barbara quarterback Poncho Renteria.

What the Brahmas were missing was any means imaginable to stop the sophomore from covering the field with pass after pass in a Western State Conference opener won by Santa Barbara, 46-21, at Pierce.

Renteria, a 6-foot, 203-pound returning all-conference selection, completed 17 of 24 passes for 341 yards with four touchdowns in a dominating outing that left the Pierce secondary reeling. At one point, Renteria completed 10 passes in a row.

“He’s not going to have a much better night than tonight,” Pierce Coach Bill Norton said. “He played excellent football.”

Renteria’s primary target was 6-4, 197-pound receiver Scott Arnold, who had seven receptions for 181 yards and three touchdowns.

Santa Barbara (2-0 overall, 1-0 in conference play) finished with 545 yards in offense. Pierce (1-1, 0-1) also moved the ball with ease, totaling 429 yards.

Santa Barbara opened an 18-7 halftime advantage with a relentless air attack that included 225 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions by Arnold.

After increasing its lead to 25-7 after three quarters, Santa Barbara stretched the margin to 32-7 on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Don Ballard to Paul Perkins on a fake punt.

Pierce, which climbed into the Southern California JC coaches poll (No. 15) this week for the first time since football was reinstated at the school in 1989, responded with a nine-play, 55-yard scoring drive minutes later that culminated with a seven-yard scoring run by LaShante Parker.

Parker finished with 86 yards in 17 carries and Arie McQuaig added 101 yards in 18 rushes.

The Brahmas appeared to have the momentum early in the first half when Toney Frazier hauled in the second of Renteria’s two first-half interceptions early in the second quarter. But Renteria, who threw only three interceptions last season, was anything but gun-shy after that.

Starting at the Santa Barbara 23, Renteria picked apart the Pierce secondary in a five-play scoring drive that ended in a nine-yard scoring pass to Arnold.

A two-play blitz moments later included passes of 54 and 31 yards to Arnold, the latter a touchdown.