Football- Vikings Win Southern California Bowl Over Southwestern
The No. 12 Long Beach City College football team defeated the No. 18 Southwestern College Jaguars on Saturday evening 20-16 in the 2019 Southern California Bowl in the final game of the season at Veterans Memorial Stadium. This is the fifth bowl win under Head Coach Brett Peabody.
The Jaguars hit a 45-yard field goal at the start of the first quarter. Then they scored their first touchdown with two minutes left in the quarter to shut the Vikings out 10-0.
In the second quarter, Long Beach amped up their offense with a three-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Derrach West to freshman wide receiver Julian Woodard. Sophomore wide receiver Zion Bowens smashed the Vikings' second touchdown with a deep 42-yard pass from West to take the lead away from the Jaguars 13-10.
Southwestern then drove a 49-yard pass to sink their final touchdown of the game with four minutes left in the second quarter. With 1:25 left in the half, freshman punter Jakob Lemeiux punted the ball to the Jaguars endzone, where freshman defensive back Alex Brown recovered the Jaguars fumble and scored for Long Beach to extend the Vikings' lead 20-16.
In the second half of the game, Long Beach's defense ruled the gridiron and both teams remained scoreless. With less the five minutes on the clock, sophomore linebacker D'Anthony Jones had a huge interception for a 15-yard return. Then with forty-one seconds left the game, sophomore defensive end Shane Irwin ended the Jaguars offense with sack for a loss of 12-yards and the Vikings took home the 20-16 bowl win over the Jaguars.
At the conclusion of the game, freshman defensive lineman Divine Obichere earned the Most Valuable Player Award as he led the Vikings with seven tackles, had one sack for a loss of four yards, had a total of 2.5 tackles for a loss of 11 Jaguar yards. West was also named the Player of the Game as he had two touchdown passes, and totaled 125 total yards in the air.
Women's Soccer
The state-ranked No. 16 Long Beach City College women's soccer fell to Cerritos College 2-1 in the SoCal Regional Playoffs on Saturday afternoon.
The Vikings fought hard and freshman forward Allison Rose Veloz scored a penalty kick to tie the game 1-1 in the first half. The Falcons came back and scored one more goal to take the 2-1 win and advance to the next round in the playoffs. This was Veloz's 19th goal of the season.
The women's soccer team will return next season.
Women's Volleyball- Vikings Fall in Conference Tournament Title Match
The Long Beach City College women's volleyball fell to the El Camino College Warriors 3-1 in the South Coast Conference Tournament finals on Tuesday evening in the Hall of Champions. With the loss, the Warriors take home the conference crown.
The Vikings took the first set against El Camino 25-22, but then dropped the second and third sets (25-22, 25-21). It all came down to the fourth and final set and the Warriors made a comeback and took the set 25-23.
Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Earkman was a constant threat to the Warriors as she totaled 28 kills. Earkman also had 28 digs and one block assists against the Warriors. Freshman outside hitter Callissa Candalot totaled nine digs for the Vikings and led the team with four block assists at the net.
The Vikings will host Orange Coast College on Tuesday evening in the Building Q Gym in the first round of the SoCal Regional Playoffs. Ticket prices for the game are $12 general admission and $8 for all students, faculty, staff, senior citizens, and children less than 12 years old. To view the remaining schedule, click here.
Men's Water Polo
The No. 2 Long Beach City College men's water polo team was in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championship over the weekend.
The Vikings defeated No. 1 Sierra College 15-5 in the semifinals at Golden West College on Friday afternoon. With the win, the Vikings advanced to the state championship final to face off with No. 1 Golden West College on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 12:15 p.m. The Vikings fell to Golden West in the final minute of the game and lost the State Championship 10-9.
This was the Vikings' 15th State Tournament appearance since 2000, and the 10th in the past 12 years. The Vikings are the second winningest program in CCCAA history for men's water polo, with nine CCCAA Championships, with the last in 2015.
The Vikings will return next Fall.
Women's Basketball
The women's basketball team participated in the Ventura-Kiwanis Tournament over the weekend.
The Vikings defeated College of the Canyons 69-45 in the first round of the Tournament to advance to play Mt. SAC in the second round. Freshman wing Donavion Huskey left the team with 20 points against the Cougars.
In the second game of the tournament, the Vikings lost to Mt.SAC 62-54. Freshman point Ivori Scott recorded 21 rebounds and had four blocks against the Mounties.
On the final day of the tournament, the Vikings fell to Cypress College in overtime 85-77. Huskey hit the double-double with 24 points and had 22 rebounds against the Chargers, sophomore guard Isabel Lizarraga also nailed 15 points for the Vikings and had six assist.
The Vikings will be back in action on Friday, December 13 against San Francisco at LA Valley College at 1 p.m.
Cross Country
The Long Beach City College cross-country team had athletes that participated in the CCCAA State Championships at Woodard Park in Fresno.
Sophomore Donovan Zavala placed 97th with a 22:17.2 time and freshman Jonathan Ruiz took home 125th with a 22:44.6.
On the women's side, freshman Amaya Ferris placed 112th with a 21:28.8 and sophomore Dasani Zavala was right behind her with a time of 21:31.2.
The cross country teams will return to the course next Fall.