A big play on third down again played a pivotal role in Bakersfield College's football misfortunes.

A 70-yard TD on third-and-13 tied the game in the first quarter, but it was an emotional lift to a Valley team that had lost 48-3 one week earlier. From that point on, Valley dug in and gave BC more than it wanted.

One week earlier, BC lost 31-25 to a Fresno City College team that converted 11-of-15 third down chances, including 7-of-8 in the first quarter.

You see it so often in sports: a weaker team is allowed to hang around in a close game, and then that team pulls off an upset.

One startling aspect of the game: BC's inability to score after reaching the red zone.

Six times Saturday night BC moved the ball inside the Valley 20-yard line. Three times the Renegades came away with zero points, twice BC was limited to short field goals, and once BC scored a touchdown.

A rundown:

-- The second series. BC drove from its 25 to the goal line, but got nothing out of it when fullback Justin Jackson fumbled when he was hit as he reached the goal line. Valley recovered in the end zone for a touchback.

-- BC scored its only TD of the night on the next red zone possession, a drive that started on the Renegade 34 and ended with Matt Peralta's 10-yard TD run.

-- On a drive that started late in the first quarter and ended in the second, BC drove from its 16 to the Valley 3, but couldn't punch it in, so BC settled for a 19-yard Arturo Villa field goal.

-- With a chance to take the lead at halftime, BC drove from its 28 to the Valley 11. But freshman WR Chikadibia Madu caught a short pass, saw nowhere to run and inexplicably ran backwards trying to make something happen. He lost five yards, and BC then lost seven more yards on the next play when quarterback Nick Gauthier badly overthrew a lateral that went out of bounds. The normally reliable Villa then missed a 40-yard FG try.

-- In the third quarter, BC drove from its 20 to the Valley 3, but again had to settle for a short Villa field goal when Gauthier threw high to a wide open TE Zack Lewis in the end zone on third-and-goal. Lewis got his fingertips on the ball but couldn't hold it.

-- And in the fourth quarter, BC drove from its 20 to the Valley 17. BC trailed 17-13 at the time (there was 6:38 remaining). Villa was initially sent on the field for a possible field goal, but the Renegade coaches changed their minds and went for the first down on fourth-and-2. Gauthier threw incomplete to end that drive.

Valley, to its credit, was effective calling running plays when BC inserted six defensive backs looking for passes. Valley used a no-huddle offense the entire night, which limits defensive substitutions.

There were other issues that cost BC dearly. One of the biggest plays occurred as Valley attempted a 50-yard field goal early in the second quarter. The attempt fell short but a roughing-the-kicker penalty gave the Monarchs a first down. The drive stalled shortly after that, but kicker Dylan Brenton made the easier 34-yard FG that ensued.

BC had some bright moments. Probably the highlight was keeping the Monarchs from scoring when they had a first-and-goal from inside the 1 in the fourth quarter. BC stuffed an option run and kept Valley's top runner out of the end zone. And the subsequent field goal try was blocked.

Santa Monica (0-2) is next up for BC, next Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Fresno CC, by the way, recorded a stunning victory Saturday: 24-17 over defending state champion and top-ranked City College of San Francisco.