Football: Bulldogs Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with Win Over SBCC

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Allan Hancock College football team pulled out a gusty win over Santa Barbara City College at home while hosting the 20th Annual Military Appreciation Game on Saturday afternoon. This also marks the sixth consecutive victory over the Vaqueros and moves the all-time series record to 38-24-1 in favor of AHC. | BOX SCORE

The Bulldogs now sit in a three-way tie for first place in the National Northern League, sharing the spot with El Camino and Canyons who also boast 4-1 marks. Ventura, the lone league member to hold a spotless 5-0 record, is alone at the top. Two regular season games remain across the SCFA, highlighted by Hancock's trips to El Camino and Ventura's trek to Canyons for the finale. 

ALLAN HANCOCK (5-3, 4-1) vs SANTA BARBARA (3-5, 1-4)

QUARTER 1: AHC 14 | SBCC 0

Caden Harris crossed the goal line twice in the opening quarter to put the Bulldogs ahead by two possessions. The first score came on Hancock's first possession after the Las Vegas native buttoned up a seven-play drive by breaking free for a 38-yard rushing touchdown. Hancock's defense stood tall on the following possession and forced a quick three-and-out punt, which was blocked by Zekiel Seumalo. 

Harris and JP Luketu led the Bulldogs on the ensuing drive with a pair of long rushes but were unable to score after a missed field goal from 32 yards out. The home squad capitalized on a short field after forcing the Vaqueros to punt from their own end zone and scored after a 31-yard rush by Harris. 

QUARTER 2: AHC 6 | SBCC 14

The Vaqueros opened the second frame with a 13-play drive that spanned 66 yards and ended with a short one-yard touchdown pass. Both teams punted on their next possessions before Hancock's offense managed to find some momentum. Luketu sparked the surge with a pair of long rushes that spanned 17 yards and 24 yards, respectively, before Jackson Clavel used a 17-yard touchdown pass for Elias Martinez to end the drive. SBCC answered on the ensuing possession with an 11-yarder through the air. 

QUARTER 3: AHC 0 | SBCC 10

The Vaqueros, who entered the intermission trailing 20-14, opened the third quarter with an interception after three minutes of play. They converted the defensive stop with a successful 25-yard field goal attempt just four minutes later.

After a pair of penalties that forced three kickoffs and a scoreless drive for AHC and ended with a missed field goal, the visiting crew took over with 3:33 remaining on their own 20-yard line. The drive took just one play as the Vaqueros notched an 80-yard touchdown pass en route to their first lead of the day. 

QUARTER 4: AHC 13 | SBCC 7

Hancock ate up just over nine minutes on their first drive of the fourth quarter after a 14-play stretch, which ended with a one-yard scurry by Harris through the goal line. Santa Barbara bounced back quickly with a 10-yard kickoff return that was then pitched out as a lateral pass to the left and returned 89 yards for a touchdown. 

The Bulldogs answered with a six-play scoring drive that spanned 80 yards and ended with three minutes remaining in regulation. Harris started the possession with a 23-yard streak, followed by a 37-yard rush by Ferrari Busby on the next snap. Harris registered two additional carries, combining for 10 total yards, before Busby punched it through the end zone with a six-yard bringing the Bulldogs back ahead at 33-31. 

Trent Kimmel brought SBCC's next drive to a close with an interception that was returned 34 yards, but the home squad was scoreless on the possession after a field goal attempt from 41 yards out went wide-right. The Vaqueros comeback hopes fell short after the potential go-ahead field goal try from 49 yards out went wide. 

LEADERS

Tackles: Daelin Randle - 5 / Reynold Uti - 5
Receptions: Elias Martinez - 4 / Metuliki Tupou - 3 
Receiving Yards: Metuliki Tupou - 55
Rushing Yards: Caden Harris - 165 (3 TDs) / Ferrari Busby - 96 (1 TD)
Passing Yards: Jackson Clavel - 155 yards, 12-for-19, 1 TD, 1 INT

NOTABLES

• Caden Harris closed the day with 165 rushing yards, marking his fifth consecutive game of 125+ yards on the ground. He also registered three touchdowns for the second straight week and averaged 7.5 yards per carry after 22 attempts. 
• Hancock's defense dominated on third down conventions, allowing just three successful tries on 14 attempts by SBCC (21%).
• Penalties plagued both programs as Santa Barbara gave up 59 yards on nine flags and the Bulldogs were charged with 63 yards after six flags. 

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will return home for Sophomore Day against El Camino College on Saturday, November 4th, at 1 PM on the AHC Football Field.