Saturday night’s rivalry game between LBCC and Mt. SAC wasn’t the tightwire classic that the teams’ recent meetings have been, mostly because the Vikings got off to a slow start. Playing in front of a nice-sized crowd of 2,000 fans, Mt. SAC jumped out to a 22-0 halftime lead and was able to hang on despite a late charge from LBCC, 36-20.
“It took us too long to get going, and against a team like that you can’t spot them a lead,” said LBCC coach Brett Peabody.
Mt. SAC went up 29-0 early in the third quarter, and from that point until the end of the game LBCC outscored them 20-7, cutting the lead to two scores twice before running out of time.
The Mounties struck first as Zach Rangel threw a touchdown and then Mt. SAC’s defensive line recorded a safety. Rangel threw two more touchdowns and then the Mounties opened the third quarter with a 38-yard touchdown run to take the 29-0 lead.
After that LBCC dug in, as quarterback Derrach West hit Julian Woodard for a 32-yard score, then Saeed Galloway ran in a 38-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 29-14. The Vikings couldn’t score on their next few drives, and Mt. SAC put the game away with a touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter to go up 36-14.
Mt. SAC outgained LBCC 389-244 yards and more importantly out-possessed the Vikings 35:43 to 24:17, chewing up the clock in the second half to preserve the win.
LBCC (1-1) will look to bounce back on the road against LA Valley. The Vikings’ next home game is Oct. 5 against Cerritos.
