Sophomore quarterback Brock Dale
(Lakewood HS) threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns while the
Vikings' running game was just as effective with 253 yards on the
ground in a 44-27 Long Beach City College win over visiting
Moorpark College on Saturday in both teams' season-opener at LBCC's
Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Dale, starting in place in quarterback Kenny Potter
(San Pedro HS), was efficient in the victory as he completed his
first 12 passes. He needed just four plays to help get the Vikings
on the board.
After a big 49-yard reception by sophomore De'Quan
Hampton (Dominguez HS), freshman Darren Johnson
(Cabrillo HS) ran in from 17 yards out to give Long Beach a quick
7-0 lead at the 13:28 mark in the first.
With the score tied at 7-7, Dale orchestrated an 11-play, 83-yard
drive to put the Vikings back out in front. Dale connected with
Hampton three times during the drive, including a 33-yard catch for
a first down that got the Vikings down to the Moorpark five-yard
line. Three plays later, Dale hit freshman Raul Torres (San
Pedro HS) for a one-yard touchdown and LBCC was up 14-7 with 5:47
to go in the first quarter.
Long Beach extended its lead after Dale and Hampton hooked up
again, this time for a 10-yard TD to give the Vikings a 21-7
advantage at the 12:52 mark in the second.
Moorpark then rallied for a pair of unanswered touchdown to tie
the game. Raekeal Beasley broke free for a 46-yard TD run and
Raider quarterback Zach LaBar snuck in from one yard out to tie the
game just before halftime.
But in the second half, the Vikings' defense finally clamped down
while the offense continued to roll. Led by an impressive pass-rush
from freshmen Josh Allen (West
Torrance HS) and Jason Fao (Poly
HS), Long Beach allowed just six second-half points. Its lone
mistake was a 60-yard touchdown run by Dontavious Grace late in the
third quarter.
Allen and Fao continued to applied pressure on LaBar and combined
for 19 tackles and three sacks on the night. The LBCC defense also
broke up six passes.
LBCC got a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown by freshman Anterio
Bateman (Serra HS) to get things going early in the second
half. Dale tossed a 34-yard TD to sophomore Michael Whitt
(San Pedro HS) in the third, freshman Alfredo Solis
(Paramount HS) nailed a 38-yard field goal, and Johnson added his
second rushing TD from one-yard out to close out the scoring for
the Vikings.
Dale closed his night completing 19 of 30 passes while Hampton led all receivers with eight catches for 98 yards. On the ground, LBCC had three rush for 60+ yards. Johnson led with 11 carries for 72 yards while Bateman was 11 for 62 and freshman Royce Moore (St. John Bosco) ran 11 times for 60 yards.
For Moorpark (0-1), LaBar threw for 130 yards on 15 of 31
passing. Thanks to his 60-yard TD, Grace led Moorpark on the ground
with 73 yards. On defense, James Allen was everywhere totaling 14
tackles and a sack.
With tonight's win, Long Beach (1-0) snapped a three-game losing
streak on opening day. The Vikings will look to keep its momentum
going next Saturday (Sep 13) when it hosts Palomar College in a 6
pm non-conference game.