Valley Attack Dries Up After Early Score

A few of Christo’s umbrellas in nearby Gorman would have helped protect the Valley College football team from the rainstorm it encountered in the first half of Saturday night’s game against Bakersfield.

But all the giant umbrellas in the world would have done nothing to stop the deluge of offensive plays Bakersfield rained on Valley after the first period as the Renegades sloshed to a 10-7 victory in a Western State Conference Southern Division opener at Memorial Stadium.

Valley (3-3, 3-2 in conference play) scored on its initial possession and not again.

Meanwhile, Bakersfield (3-3, 3-2) ran off 75 offensive plays to just 30 for the Monarchs over the final three quarters.

Bakersfield amassed 319 of its 380 yards in the last three periods while holding Valley to 91 over that span. The Monarchs, held to zero passing yards, gained just 52 total yards in the second half.

Valley quarterback Michael Wynn misfired on all three of his passes and threw one interception before reinjuring a hyper-extended knee in the fourth period. Wynn’s backup, Phil Parker, was also zero for three with an interception.

The lone bright spot for Valley was the running of Nigel Bostic, who gained 121 yards in eight carries. Bostic rushed for 109 yards in the first period and had 118 by halftime in seven carries.

Bostic injured his knee in the second quarter, however, and carried just once in the second half.

Valley’s Terrance Brown added 88 yards in 16 carries.

Bakersfield, which rushed for 227 yards, was led by Reggie Williams (99 yards in 19 carries) and Eddie Harvey (81 in 21).

Renegade quarterback Brent Paul completed 11 of 21 passes for 153 yards.

The first half, in which all of the game’s points were scored, was a tale of two periods.

The first period belonged to Valley, which, thanks to Bostic, outgained Bakersfield by more than 100 yards (166-61).

Bakersfield came back to dominate the second quarter, holding Valley to 39 yards and outscoring the Monarchs, 10-0, to take a 10-7 halftime lead.

The Renegades tied the score on Harvey’s one-yard touchdown run and Jon Baker’s kick with 2 minutes 13 seconds left in the second period.

Bakersfield took the lead after Frank Clark intercepted an option pass by Brown and returned it 25 yards to the Bakersfield 49.

The Renegades drove to the Valley 14, and Baker booted a 31-yard field goal as time expired in the half.

It proved to be the difference in the game.

Monarch quarterback Wynn, playing in place of the injured Chris Gadomski (separated shoulder), misfired on his only pass before intermission, as all of Valley’s 205 first-half yards came on the ground.