JC FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Pierce Proves No Match for Bakersfield in 31-7 Setback

By JOHN ORTEGA

Oct. 25, 1992 12 AM PT

Pierce College averted a shutout when Cesar Parra and Xavier Foreman hooked up on a 94-yard touchdown play with one minute 24 seconds left in Saturday’s Western State Conference Southern Division game against visiting Bakersfield.

But that’s about all the Brahmas averted because the Renegades dominated the preceding 58:36 to secure a 31-7 victory.

After watching Pierce’s offense play inconsistently for the first five games, Coach Bill Norton gave freshman quarterback David Erhardt the starting nod for the first time.

But the change failed to produce the lift Norton was looking for.

“He’s played well last week coming off the bench, but we wanted to give him some time at starter,” Norton said of Erhardt. “Unfortunately, it didn’t make much difference. It wasn’t for lack of trying, but we just didn’t do what we wanted to.”

Erhardt struggled, completing three of 14 passes for 30 yards. He threw one interception and was sacked five times for minus-39 yards.

“I felt OK,” Erhardt said. “But it was just hard to move the ball against their defense. They just overpowered us at times.”

Leading by 10 at halftime, Bakersfield (4-1-1 overall, 3-1-1 in conference play, 1-0 in division play) wore down the Brahmas in the second half.

The Renegades marched 51 yards in eight plays to take a 17-0 lead with 3:44 left in the third quarter.

Quarterback Carl Dean’s three-yard scoring toss to tight end Jeff Endes capped the drive, but Pierce did not help itself with an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty at the beginning of the drive. The Brahmas were also guilty of jumping offside when Bakersfield had a fourth-and-one play at the Pierce 13.

The Renegades drove 66 yards in 10 plays on their next possession to take a 24-0 lead with 11:39 left in the fourth period.

Jason Higbee capped the drive with a two-yard run.

“Our defense was just out on the field way too long,” Norton said.

Pierce (3-3, 2-3, 0-1) had 205 yards in total offense, but 94 came on Foreman’s reception.