Cougars Come From Behind to Beat Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – In one of the most dramatic games of the season, College of the Canyons rallied on the road in the final seconds to beat Bakersfield College 38-35 on Saturday night.

The Cougars led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, but a Bakersfield comeback was quickly derailed in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter when COC quarterback Devon Dunn scored on a 4-yard scramble to put the Cougars ahead for the final time, 38-35.

In a game that saw a combined 906 total yards of offense, they were also a number of defensive specialty plays. On just the second play from scrimmage, COC linebacker Austin Murillo intercepted a Tarek Yaeggie pass and returned it 28 yards for the first score of the game. An Eric Kreitz extra point put the Cougars up 7-0 after just 41 seconds into the game.

Bakersfield would eventually answer when Tarek Yaeggie connected on a 54-yard pass to Marques Johnson. The extra point tied the game at 7-7.

On the next drive, COC would push the ball downfield and eventually took the lead. A 10-play 74-yard drive culminated in with a 10-yard Tony Dawson touchdown run. The extra point gave the Cougars a 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw both teams exchanging punts and possession. The Cougars defense stifled the Bakersfield offense forcing two punts and a Triston Brown interception at the end of the second quarter.

The Cougars however would break through with a score, taking a 21-7 lead into halftime after Devon Dunn scored on a three-yard touchdown run.

After a third quarter Eric Kreitz field goal gave COC its largest lead of the game at 17, Bakersfield began their comeback.

On Bakersfield's first drive of the second half, running back Triton Douglas scored on an eight-yard touchdown run, cutting the COC lead to 10. The Cougars still lead 24-14 headed into the fourth quarter.

Then, things turned wild.

Bakersfield would get back into the game after a 36-yard touchdown pass from Tarek Yaeggie to Marques Johnson – their second scoring connection of the game – cutting the Cougars lead to three.

On the second play of the Cougars ensuing drive, COC quarterback Devon Dunn and Earl Johnson hooked up on a 74-yard strike to increase their lead back to 10 points. COC led 31-21 with just under 12 minutes left in the game.

Bakersfield would score on their ensuing drive, cutting COC's lead to three points 31-28 with 6:28 left in regulation.

The Cougars would take the ball and drive it towards the Renegade red zone. The Cougars began a new set of downs from the Bakersfield 22-yard line. The offense would get as close as the Bakersfield 14-yard line where they were faced with a 4th and 2. COC head coach Ted Iacenda kept the offense on the field going for it on fourth down, but a Dawson pass to Anthony Costleigh fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs with just over three minutes left on the clock.

Bakersfield then scored on their next drive to take a 35-31 lead leaving just 1:07 left in the game.

However, that was just enough time for the Cougars to pull off the unexpected comeback.

On the opening play of the final drive, Dunn completed a 56-yard pass to Anthony Fowler taking the Cougars all the way down to the Bakersfield 16 yard line.

On third down, COC quarterback Devon Dunn was sacked putting the ball back to the Bakersfield 26 yard line, but a personal foul penalty against the Renegades moved the ball to the Renegade 11 yard line and gave COC a fresh set of downs with just under 30 seconds left in the game.

A seven-yard pass to Joshua Fugelsang, put COC four yards away from victory, and on third down, Devon Dunn scrambled and scored his second touchdown run of the game. The score would put COC up for good and wrapped with a 38-35 score.

The victory improves COC's record to 2-3 on the season and evens their conference record to 1-1.

College of the Canyons next hosts Saddleback College at Cougar Stadium at 6p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.