Football: Vikings total 530 yards of offense in 44-27 season-opening win over Moorpark

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.

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.