Football: Rough start continues for Vikings, fall 34-12 to Orange Coast

The tough start of the 2012 season continued for the Long Beach City College football ball team as it suffered a 34-12 non-conference loss to visiting Orange Coast College on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The loss dropped the Vikings to 0-3 overall as they head into SCFA Central Conference play next week.

Despite gaining 342 yards of offense, the Vikings couldn't put together any drives for scores.

Orange Coast (2-1) got on the scoreboard first thanks to some help from the Vikings. On the second play of the opening drive, sophomore Jerramie Jackson (Paramount HS) fumbled the ball away in LBCC territory. OCC's Vince Coleman scooped up the loose ball at the Long Beach 29 and ran it back to the 12-yard line.

Three plays later, Pirate quarterback Jon Newsom connect with Cam Oliver for a nine-yard touchdown reception to give OCC a 7-0 lead at the 13:20 mark in the first.

The highlight of the game came from LBCC sophomore Dominique Williams (Poly HS) on the ensuing kickoff. Williams (pictured) received the kick at his own two-yard line and raced down the right sideline for a 98-yard return for a touchdown.

Orange Coast took the lead for good in the second quarter. A two-yard Robert Penny touchdown run capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive for the Pirates and gave OCC a 13-7 (missed PAT kick) advantage over the Vikings with 13:38 to go in the half.

Long Beach got a two-point safety thanks to a bad snap that went out of the Orange Coast end zone with 5:22 left in the second and added a 37-yard field goal by freshman Alex Boy (Lakewood HS) at the 6:14 mark in the third to close out its scoring.

LBCC freshman quarterback Casey Nielsen (Gahr HS) played well in his first start of the season, throwing for 263 yards on 21 of 39 passing with one interception and no touchdowns.

Sophomore Richard Wheeler (Poly HS) led the Vikings with eight catches for 61 yards while sophomore Lawrence Allen (Poly HS) had four receptions for 86 yards. Williams totaled 115 yards on two kickoff returns.

On defense, five different Vikings had sacks, including Daniel Denize (Tumba, Sweden), Haden Gregory (Palos Verdes HS), Allen White (Poly HS), Jayson Salesulu Bellflower HS), and Don Sasa (Charlotte, NC). Ariel Arguello (Paramount HS) led LBCC with 13 tackles (5 solo) while Jede Fue (Wilson HS) had 10 tackles (2 solo).   

For Orange Coast, running back Robert Penny had a big game collecting 164 yards on 30 attempts with two touchdowns. Newsom completed 10 of 20 passes for 110 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Long Beach returns to action next Saturday (Sep 22) at 6pm when it opens conference play at El Camino College. The squads will play for possession of the Battle Axe, the perpetual trophy awarded to the winner of the rivalry game.

Photo by John Fajardo