Reserve Running Backs Heat Up Quickly in Glendale’s 41-16 Win : College football: Freshmen Leon Jones and Andy Cleland move into starting roles and key Vaqueros’ upset of Bakersfield.

Glendale College football Coach John Cicuto didn’t need the heat, smog or any other advantage Saturday against powerful Bakersfield.

Cicuto didn’t even need Pathon Rucker or Leon Gable, his top running backs.

All he needed was the kind of desire and effort his team demonstrated for four quarters in upsetting Bakersfield, 41-16, in a Western State Conference game at Glendale High.

Cicuto was hoping a hot, smoggy day might give Glendale an edge against Bakersfield, which came into the game 3-0 and ranked 12th in the country and fourth in the state.

And with Rucker and Gable playing sparingly because they missed practice Monday, it looked as if Glendale would need every advantage against the Renegades (2-1 in WSC play).

But the Vaqueros (3-1, 2-1), winless over Bakersfield since 1987, were up to the challenge.

Freshman reserves Leon Jones (59 yards, 20 carries) and Andy Cleland (38 yards, five carries, one touchdown) stepped into starting roles and played efficient, inspired, fumble-free football.

Quarterback Eric Kiesau connected on his first nine passes and completed 11 of 15 for 160 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a one-yard touchdown.

Wide receiver Angel Martinez caught four passes for 81 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown from Kiesau.

Even Rucker and Gable got into the act in the fourth quarter. Rucker finished with 54 yards in nine carries and scored on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. Gable carried once but made the most it, scoring the game’s final touchdown on an eight-yard run with 49 seconds remaining.

No team had scored more than 22 points against Bakersfield, but Glendale had 28 by halftime when it boasted 18-point lead.

And then there was the Vaquero defense, which held a team averaging nearly 407 yards and 35 points a game to 276 yards and 16 points.

“Sixty guys came together as one unit. It was a great feeling,” Kiesau said. “I’m a little surprised, but we’re just getting better and better each week.”

Cicuto defended his decision to bench Rucker and Gable for most of the first half.

“If you miss practice, our rule is you have to drop down. That’s the way it goes,” Cicuto said. “But (Rucker and Gable) were great. They were on the sidelines cheering the other kids on.”

There was plenty to cheer about.

Glendale took advantage of an Angus Sumlin fumble to score its first touchdown on Kiesau’s one-yard sneak in the first quarter, and the Vaqueros took the lead for good in the second quarter when Kiesau tossed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Kadletz.

Before the half was over, Kiesau had thrown a 28-yard touchdown pass to Martinez and Cleland had raced 17 yards for a touchdown. Bakersfield was limited to 119 yards in the second half and never got back in the game.

Cicuto unleashed Rucker late in the third quarter with Glendale leading, 28-10, and attempting to run the clock. The freshman from Glendale High carried the ball on eight of the next 12 plays, scoring on a 13-yard run over the left side with 10 minutes 12 seconds to play. Brad Faunce’s kick was blocked by Chris Shepard, but Glendale was comfortably ahead, 34-10.

“I’m sure Bakersfield was looking for Gable and Rucker to start, and it probably confused them,” Cicuto said. “But guys who hadn’t had a chance to play came through. This was their test to go out and produce. Now we know we have four good running backs to put in there.”