The 2009 incarnation of Allan Hancock College football wasn’t quite perfect.
But if it’s any consolation, how does “Team of the Decade” sound?
“As an overall unit, this is the best team I’ve coached,” said Hancock head coach Kris Dutra prior to the postseason. “We might have had some teams where there were some more talented guys at some spots, but this is about as good as we’ve had since we got here.”
In Dutra’s ninth season at the helm, the Bulldogs finished 9-1. The last time that happened, in 1999, Hancock carried their regular season success over to an appearance in the state championship game.
This year, though they came up a bit short in their first round playoff game against Bakersfield, the Bulldogs tore through their schedule with a bruising rushing attack and efficient quarterbacking by sophomore Gunnar Jespersen.
Preseason expectations were high for a more experienced squad than the one that reached playoffs a year ago. Jespersen said this team exceeded them all.
“We had somewhat of an idea at the beginning of the season, but you never really know how it’s going to turn out,” Jespersen said. “Sometimes you think you have a great team, sometimes you think you have a bad team. Things just end up the way they end up.“
Things could have scarcely ended up better for the Bulldogs, who led all Southern California community
colleges in rushing yardage and total offense during the regular year.
The success didn’t go unnoticed when it came time for individual recognition. Jespersen was named first team All-Conference, joined by linemen Tyler Vogt and Riley Gauld, representing an offensive line that gave up just 10 sacks.
Wide receiver Marquelo Suel, who led the team with 45 receptions, and tailback Ryan Anglin, the conference’s leading rusher with 879 yards, also netted first team accolades.
“Our team’s gotten really close,” Anglin said before the playoffs. “Everybody practices as hard as they can, and it shows during the games.”
Anglin and platoon mate Thomas Sua combined to catapult the Bulldogs’ rushing game to a 247-yards-per-game average on the ground. Sua averaged 63 yards per contest and led the team with 14 touchdowns.
Not to be outdone, Hancock was equally adept on the defensive side, led by first team All-Conference linebacker Brennan Locker.
“We swarm to the ball,” Locker said in practice for the postseason. “When we do our jobs on every play and there’s no fundamental breakdowns, that’s our best thing.”
Locker said despite narrowly missing an undefeated season, he was pleased with the way the team came together on and off the field.
“That’s a great record. Not too many teams can pull that off,” he said. “We had our down moments, but we had our peak moments, too. I feel like we can beat anybody if we play our best. I don’t think there’s too many teams out there that can play with us the whole game.”
The year’s only blemish came at the hands of Bakersfield College, who beat Hancock 31-24 on Oct. 10. In that game, the Bulldogs came within one yard of a potential game-tying score in the final seconds, and the outcome left a bitter taste in the mouths of the players.
Coming in to the playoffs ranked fifth, the Bulldogs were primed for revenge against the fourth-ranked Renegades on the road. Just like in the regular season, the rematch came down to the wire.
Hancock jumped out to an early 7-3 edge in the first quarter when Anglin punched in a touchdown from the 2-yard line. The lead went back and forth all game, and things looked promising for Hancock in the fourth. Ahead 21-13, the Bulldogs charged 96 yards to the Bakersfield 3-yard line, but kicker Nathan Stein missed a 19-yard field goal with 6:54 remaining that would’ve put them up by two scores.
Bakersfield responded quickly, tying the score at 21 apiece with a touchdown and a two-point conversion. The Bulldogs’ offense stalled and Bakersfield drove down to the 8-yard line on their final possession. With three seconds left, Renegades’ kicker Josh Gallington sealed the deal with a 25-yard field goal, giving Bakersfield a 24-21 victory.
Though the ending wasn’t a happy one for Hancock, making the postseason did give the players some much-needed added exposure to recruiters.
Before the playoffs, Jespersen, who scored two rushing touchdowns in the game, said the postseason could be a springboard to larger colleges for the team’s star sophomores.
“I’m really banking on the playoffs right now,” Jespersen explained. “Being my size, I need as much as I can get.”
Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas is fun for everybody. Contact him at jthomas@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 3, 2009.
