Bakersfield College bounced back nicely from its first loss of the season on Sept. 26 against El Camino by rolling past Pasadena in Memorial Stadium tonight (Oct. 3), 34-13.

In the days leading up to the game, BC coach Jeff Chudy said Pasadena quarterback Nick Ponce was a better passer than El Camino's Matt Simms, who carved up the BC defense with more than 400 passing yards in the 40-24 win over the Gades.

The Gades definitely played much better against Pasadena. Ponce, who hadn't had an interception all season, threw five. One was returned for a TD and another almost was -- a penalty nullified a 62-yard TD return. The backup QB also threw a pick.

BC sacked Pasadena's two QBs eight times -- four by defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford who seemed to be in the Lancers' backfield the entire night.

Ponce, as it turns out, is not in Matt Simms' league.

Sure, BC played much better and with much more intensity, four turnovers and nearly 100 yards in penalties notwithstanding. But this game was similar to the other BC victories: The Renegades simply overpowered Pasadena because of the Gades' physical prowess.

El Camino, which improved to 5-0 on Saturday by slaughering Riverside 41-16, is a very physical team. It matched BC's physical play. BC's other opponents (Fresno, L.A. Valley, Santa Monica, Pasadena) weren't in the same ballpark.

Next Saturday, BC travels to 5-0 Allan Hancock, a game which will be played at Santa Maria's Righetti High School. Hancock is always very physical, and I expect an interesting matchup because of that. Hancock beat College of the Canyons 19-16 on Saturday. Canyons now has two losses this season.

In the other Northern Natlional Conference game tonight: Ventura beat Glendale 20-13.

How BC matches up physically with Hancock (or a better question: can Hancock match the physical play of BC?) could decide the outcome of this game. We'll see.