Bakersfield Heads Off Valley at Pass

Add one more disappointment to the lurid tale of Valley College football against Bakersfield.

Despite a phenomenal passing night by quarterback Jim Arellanes, the Monarchs could do little to stop the powerful Bakersfield running attack and dropped a 51-37 Western State Conference Southern Division game Saturday night at Valley.

It was the 13th consecutive loss for Valley (7-1, 7-1 in conference play) against the Renegades (7-1, 6-1) and gave Bakersfield sole claim to the top spot in the division at 4-0. Valley dropped to 3-1 and probably lost any chance at dethroning the two-time defending champion Renegades.

Arellanes passed for a school-record 635 yards. Arrellanes completed 30 of 52 passes but had four intercepted. Arellanes had thrown only three interceptions going into the game.

The transfer from Northern Arizona has passed for 2,717 yards this season. But all those yards failed to keep Valley’s unbeaten streak alive.

The Renegades turned a 23-21 halftime deficit into a rout.

They scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter, first on a one-yard run by Tommy Criner and later on a 24-yard field goal by Robert Nycz to take a 31-23 lead.

After a one-yard run by Deriek Charles got Valley to within 31-29 after three quarters, Bakersfield poured it on with three more touchdowns in the final period.

The Monarchs jumped on Bakersfield at the outset. They marched 76 yards in 11 plays on the first possession and took a 6-0 lead on a one-yard run by Johnnie Brown.

Valley then took advantage of a fumble by George Jones at the Bakersfield 20 late in the quarter and scored two plays later on a 23-yard pass from Arellanes to receiver Jason Leonard. Charles converted the two-point run for a 14-0 lead.

Leonard finished with nine catches for a 204 yards.

Bakersfield pulled even, 14-14, on a 16-yard pass from quarterback Danny Henry to receiver Charles Woolfolk and on a five-yard run by Mike Gray with 8 minutes 10 seconds left before the half.

Jones led all rushers with 158 yards and Gray had 157.

Valley’s Brian Comer had seven receptions for 227 yards.