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The562’s coverage of Vikings athletics is sponsored in part by Long Beach City College
With 48 seconds remaining and his team trailing by 6, Qeanu Campbell-Caldwell remained calm as he trotted onto the field looking to guide Long Beach City College to a win.
QCC completed his first three of his first four passes on the final drive with time ticking away.
After a Johnathan Watson 11-yard run set up the Vikings on the Chaffey, QCC connected with Trennel Ridgely who leaped into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown with two seconds remaining as the Vikings defeated Chaffey 31-28 Saturday night.
“We’re much better than what we put out last week,” Qeanu Campbell-Caldwell said. “I know I could be much better than what I put out there last week. It starts with me as a quarterback.”
The Vikings (2-1) were firing on all cylinders early on as Ridgely set the Vikings up inside the Chaffey territory after a 60-yard touchdown return.
QCC completed both of his passes on the opening drive and connected with Watson to give LBCC a 7-0 lead, less than three minutes into the game.
The Vikings defense didn’t fold on the first Panther drive and kept Chaffey scoreless after a 37-yard field goal attempt was no good.
Mario De la Torre gave the Vikings a 10-0 lead after connecting on a 30-yard field goal attempt.
Chaffey answered back as quarterback Nicholas Poulos drove the Panthers down the field with two big gains to Julian Banks of 14 and 20 yards.
Tayvonne Miller cut LBCC’s lead to 10-7 after scoring on a 2-yard dive.
After a big return by Jacquavion Caldwell, the Vikings once again found themselves in great field position and score after Bryce Jones rushed for a 5-yard touchdown to give the Vikings a 17-7 lead.
That was the end of the Vikings momentum as Chaffey went on a 21-0 run thanks to Poulos led the Panthers to a lead.
“Their quarterback is a great football player,” LBCC coach Brett Peabody said. “Take nothing away from him, we watched on tape. The kid’s got great command.
LBCC couldn’t sustain drives until their final two drives as QCC went to work with 5:18 left and the Vikings trailing 28-17.
After starting on their own 2-yard-line, QCC accounted for 97 yards as he went 6-for-6 on his pass attempts and rushed for 16 yards that set up Dajon Newman for a 1-yard run to cut Chaffey’s lead to 28-23 with 3:14 remaining.
The Vikings’ defense came up with a big stop on Chaffey’s next drive forcing the Panthers to punt to set up the game-winning touchdown drive.
With two seconds remaining, Chaffey’s last-second effort was picked off by Andre Jenkins to secure the come-from-behind victory.
Johnathan Watson finished the night with 16 carries for 97 yards and 57 yards receiving and Ridgely finished the night with nine catches for 115 yards and the game-winning touchdown catch.
LBCC will be on the road next week when they travel to take on San Diego Mesa.
