No. 25 Bulldogs Upset No. 11 Long Beach in Historic 36-29 Victory
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Long Beach (5-4) | 3 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 29 |
|
Allan Hancock (4-5) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 36 |
Long Beach
| Game Statistics | Long Beach | Allan Hancock |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 260 | 94 |
| Rushing Yards | 124 | 323 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of Poss. | 31:54 | 28:04 |
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The No. 25-ranked Allan Hancock College football team made history with a thrilling 36-29 victory over No. 11 Long Beach City College on a windy Saturday afternoon in Santa Maria. The win, which came down to the final seconds of play, marks a first in program history for the program after previously going 0-7 against LBCC. | BOX SCORE
Both teams scored in the opening quarter as the Vikings (5-4, 2-2 NNL) made a 47-yard field goal attempt before Latrell Brown broke free for a 65-yard touchdown to put the home squad ahead. Jaleel Walker added to the cushion in the second frame by hauling in a 55-yard heave from Esekielu Storer, but the Bulldogs led by just four at the intermission after Long Beach (5-4, 2-2 NNL) used seven plays to go 66 yards for a score.
The Vikings took the lead in the third quarter after a 29-yard scramble through the goal line, but failed on the two-point conversion attempt. Hancock briefly regained the lead after Vic Garnes blocked a 19-yard field goal attempt and returned it for a 92-yard touchdown with 11 minutes remaining in the fourth frame. Long Beach responded with a quick scoring drive after a 75-yard kickoff return and a two-yard spurt to score but failed another two-point conversion attempt, leaving them with a 22-21 advantage.
Offensive production stalled for the Bulldogs on the next drive after a 15-yard penalty sent them in the wrong direction and forced a quick three-and-out punt. LBCC took over at Hancock's 35 after the wind limited the punting distance to just 19 yards. The Vikings capitalized on the short-field opportunity by building a six-play drive that ended with a rushing touchdown. A successful PAT try gave the visitors a 29-21 advantage with seven minutes remaining.
Hancock bounced back on the next possession with a series of nine plays, headlined by Brown's 30-yard surge. Kollins Pettaway, John Allen, and Dior Kennedy used short rushing attempts to close the gap before Brown scored once more after a short scurry with 3:45 remaining. The Bulldogs brought the game to a 29-29 tie after Storer connected with Alex Sutton on the two-point conversion attempt.
A solid defensive effort by the 'Dogs, which included three incomplete passes due to coverage, forced LBCC to punt after just 55 seconds of ownership. Coach Damron's squad took over at their own 27 yard line and marched down the field after successfully converting on two third-down scenarios. The seven play drive, which proved to be the game-winner, came to a close with a short completion to Jenaris Clay in the endzone with 11 ticks remaining.
Devin Guggia snuffed out any comeback hopes for the Vikings by securing an interception on the opening play of the following drive with two seconds on the clock.
Hancock overcame 164 penalty yards after seeing 15 flags and ended the contest with 417 yards of total offense. Storer closed the day with a 9-for-19 finish en route to 94 passing yards and two touchdowns. Walker, who served as Storer's primary target, tallied 80 yards after five catches. Brown led a slew of running backs with 199 yards and two touchdowns, followed by 38 yards for JP Luketu and 35 from Kennedy. Arath Acosta added four points to the team's total after a perfect 4-for-4 showing on PAT attempts.
Jesse Garza led the defense with 10 tackles, including four that forced 11 lost yards. Guggia and Jordan Fields followed with six apiece while Garnes and Andrew Lauritzen were both credited with five. Lauritzen and K'Hari Upshaw combined for the team's lone sack while Guggia and Sidney Jefferies each secured one interception.
NOTABLES:
- This is the first program victory for the Bulldogs over LBCC in eight meetings, dating back to their first matchup in 1997
- Sidney Jefferies now ranks third amongst SCFA athletes with five interceptions on the season
- Latrell Brown, who scored his fifth touchdown of the season, has now recorded 100+ rushing yards in three consecutive games
The Bulldogs are set to return to action on Saturday, November 12th, at Bakersfield College for the final game of the regular season.
