It was smooth sailing to start the 2019 football season for Long Beach City College, as the Vikings hit the road to San Diego where they blew out Grossmont, 55-24.
The Vikings led 48-10 in the fourth quarter when their starters came out.
“This is such a fun group to work with and coach,” said LBCC coach Brett Peabody. “It’s great to get a win, but it’ll be a war on Saturday.”
LBCC (1-0) will host Mt. SAC in a clash of traditional SoCal powers at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Saturday’s game couldn’t have gone much better for LBCC, as the Vikings gained 611 total yards of offense and got a very nice first start for redshirt freshman quarterback Derrach West, who was 15/28 for 211 yards and three touchdowns, plus another touchdown rushing. The first two scores went to Long Beach Poly alum Zion Bowens, a track star and Air Force bounce back who said he was ready to get back on the field.
“I’ve just been really hungry to get back on the field, that fire has been building in me,” said Bowens. “I’ve been excited to get back on the field and make a name for myself.”
Bowens caught a 35-yard pass from West to start the scoring, then two minutes later hauled in a one-handed 47-yard touchdown pass from fellow receiver Tahj Wright on a double-pass play.
LBCC scored again at the end of the first has West hit Wright on a busted coverage to put LBCC up 21-7.
Julian Woodard had a highlight-reel play end up for naught thanks to an inadvertent whistle—he appeared to be tackled at midfield but actually kept his legs off the ground and rolled over the defender, then kept running to paydirt. A whistle blew when he was at the seven, setting up a one-yard plunge from QB Tyon Harvey. West ran in another touchdown, and Jonathon Watson had a 78-yard score to start the fourth quarter. West then hit Zack Leets on a nine-yard score to make it 48-10 and bring the Vikings starters off the field.
Harvey would add another score later in the quarter.Running back Talaun Patton (St. Anthony) had 11 carries for 100 yards in the win.
