No one can accuse the Long Beach City College football team of overlooking tonight's game.
Despite facing a Los Angeles Harbor team that hadn't won since 2012 while having a game against nationally-ranked Mt. San Antonio College looming, the Vikings took care of business and cruised to a 62-7 win over the Seahawks on Saturday in Wilmington.
Long Beach scored touchdowns on all eight of its first-half drives and led 55-0 at the break.
The Vikings jumped out to a 35-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter after a 19-yard touchdown run by freshman Anterio Bateman (Serra HS), an eight-yard TD reception by sophomore Josiah Blandin (Poly HS) from sophomore quarterback Kenny Potter (San Pedro HS), a five-yard TD run by Potter, a six-yard TD catch by sophomore De'Quan Hampton (Dominguez HS), and an 11-yard touchdown run by freshman Royce Moore (St. John Bosco HS).
Potter added a three-yard run for a score, Bateman caught a 56-yard TD pass from Potter, and Blandin caught his second TD, this time from freshman Brock Dale (Lakewood HS), to give the Vikings the huge 55-point lead.
Sophomore Kameron White (Poly HS) closed out the scoring with a seven-yard run with 1:01 left in the third quarter.
The LBCC defense was just as good. Harbor nearly scored twice in the first half, but freshman Christian Woo (Mayfair HS) forced a fumble near the goal line and freshman London Iokopo (Mater Dei HS) intercepted Harbor quarterback Nick Pope in the end zone to keep the Seahawks off the board.
Long Beach forced six turnovers (three fumbles, three interceptions), broke up three passes, totaled three sacks, and was credited with nine quarterback hurries.
Woo led LBCC with seven tackles (4 solo) to go with two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and an interception.
The Viking offense totaled 500+ yards for the third time this season, gaining 307 yards on the ground while passing for 252 yards.
Potter, who was pulled from the game midway in the second quarter, went on to total five touchdowns (3 pass, 2 rush). He completed 15 of 22 passes for 187 yards and ran six times for 50 yards.
White led the Vikings on the ground, rushing 10 times for 87 yards and a touchdown. In his first game of the season, Blandin caught seven passes for 99 yards. Bateman totaled 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns thanks to two receptions for 70 yards and two rushes for 26 yards.
The win sets up a contest between a pair of nationally-ranked unbeatens. Mt. SAC was a 47-14 winner over Chaffey College on Saturday. Long Beach and Mt. SAC are the lone 4-0 teams in the SCFA National Division. The winner of next week's game will take over the top spot in the Southern California rankings and will have the early advantage to capture the Central League championship.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium on October 4. The game will also be streamed online live by SoCalCollegeSports and can be seen at lbccvikings.com.