Two interceptions, one fumble, and a blocked field goal were too much for the Long Beach City College football team to overcome as the Vikings dropped their second consecutive game, a 27-21 defeat to the visiting Riverside City College Tigers on Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Despite the turnovers, the Vikings nearly came back late in the fourth quarter. Trailing 27-14, backup quarterback Brock Dale (Lakewood HS) led Long Beach on a 15-play, 90-yard drive to get LBCC within six. A five-yard touchdown pass from Dale to sophomore Josiah Blandin (Poly HS) with 1:32 left in regulation had the Vikings thinking of a comeback.
But Long Beach deciding not to go for an on-sides kick and the defense couldn't stop Riverside from running out the game to secure the Tiger win.
The game ended and started on a bad note for the Vikings. On LBCC's opening drive, sophomore quarterback Kenny Potter (San Pedro HS) had the Vikings driving down field and appeared to be on their way to an opening score. But Potter was intercepted in the Riverside end zone to negate a 10-play, 70-yard drive.
Down 3-0, Long Beach got on the board with seven seconds remaining in the first when freshman Zach Saffle (Richards, TX) ran in from one-yard out to put LBCC in front 7-3.
Riverside responded with a 29-yard Jimmy Camacho field goal and a 24-yard touchdown pass from Nicholas King to Jermel Walker to take a 13-7 lead into halftime.
Long Beach briefly regained the lead early in the second half thanks to a Riverside tunrover. After the opening kickoff, King couldn't handle the snap on the Tiger's opening play and fumbled the ball back to the Vikings giving LBCC the ball on the RCC 10-yard line. Three plays later, Potter snuck in from two yards out to get the Vikings back out in front 14-13.
That lead didn't last long. Riverside came up with the play of the night when Thaddeus Lagrone blocked a 49-yard field goal attempt by LBCC's Alfredo Solis (Paramount HS). Treshon Broughton scopped up the ball at his own 47 and ran it back 53 yards for the go-ahead touchdown at the 4:41 mark in the third quarter.
Riverside converted another turnover into a touchdown, this time a muffed punt by freshman Anterio Bateman (Serra HS), to make it a two-score lead at 27-14 with 14:53 to play.
Riverside was outgained in offensive yards (392-337) for the second straight week and was able to pull off wins in both games. LBCC was held to to season-lows in points (21) and total yards (392).
Potter completed 14 of 26 passes for 177 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns. He was also held to a season-low three yards rushing on eight attempts. Dale came off the bench to throw for 98 yards and a TD on 10 of 18 passing with no imterceptions.
Bateman led the Vikings on the ground with 18 carries for 74 yards while Blandin was the Vikings' top receiver with eight receptions for 84 yards and a TD.
On defense, sophomore Matthew Rowe (Poly HS) led with 13 total tackles (6 solo) and two sacks.
Denzel Foster had the big night for Riverside (7-1, 4-0 NCL) rushing for 137 yards on 22 carries. With the win, the Tigers wrapped up at least a share of the conference title and a spot in the Southern California playoffs.
Long Beach, now 6-2 overall and 2-2 in National Central League play, will looks to snap its losing streak next Saturday when it travels to Citrus College for a 1 p.m. conference game.
