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Long Beach City College football team made itself right at home at St. Anthony’s Clark Field.
Playing its first official game at the temporary home while Veterans Memorial Stadium undergoes major reconstruction, LBCC dominated all three phases Saturday, shutting out Santa Barbara City College 30-0 on Saturday.
The Vikings’ defense forced two turnovers, blocked a punt and a field goal, and scored a touchdown, while quarterback Logan Ebnet directed an efficient offense that produced nearly 300 passing yards.
The Vikings looked equally comfortable on the field, controlling the game from the opening kickoff.
“This win for us was really about us,” LBCC coach Marques Cooper said. “We wanted to get to a point where we had played a game where we had all three phases going. I know a lot of people look at records, but if you watch the film, we’re in games and we’re playing hard. We just hadn’t been able to put it all together.”
LBCC opened the scoring with a 10-play, 74-yard drive capped by Lynnden Hodge’s 10-yard touchdown run. Hodge established himself as the centerpiece of the ground game, finishing with 101 yards on 18 carries.
“I think just taking advice that my coach, Cool, told me,” Hodge said. “He said, ‘Just play free.’ I just let everything develop and was patient. So I trusted my teammates, too.”
The special teams unit added another spark later in the first quarter when Hayden Lowe blocked a Santa Barbara punt at the Vaqueros’ 38-yard line. Three plays later, Ebnet connected with Travion Baker for a 39-yard touchdown, giving the Vikings a 13-0 lead.
LBCC’s defense continued to make life difficult for Santa Barbara in the second quarter.
Billye Hargrove forced a fumble with a big hit on Santa Barbara quarterback Brooks Trimmer, and Lowe scooped up the loose ball and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. The score put LBCC ahead 20-0 heading into halftime.
“I wouldn’t have been able to get that touchdown if it wasn’t for my dog, Doom,” Lowe said. “He was the one who got the sack. I just scooped and scored.”
The touchdown was particularly meaningful after a similar play was wiped away by a late whistle in LBCC’s previous game against Southwestern.
“He came back this week, took it away and actually got his touchdown,” Cooper said of Lowe. “He’s a guy that can play at a high level and make those types of plays.”
The Vikings continued to control the game after the break. Mason Eagal blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter, keeping the Vaqueros off the scoreboard.
Daniel Blas added a 24-yard field goal midway through the third quarter to extend the lead to 23-0.
LBCC (1-3, 1-0) added one more touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Kayde Bodine connected with Bo Jones for a 53-yard touchdown, putting the finishing touches on the shutout.
Ebnet completed 20 of 29 passes for 294 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Michael Wilson led the Vikings with five receptions for 66 yards, while Iseri Kuylen added four catches for 63 yards. Jayden Nolen had LBCC’s longest play from scrimmage, a 55-yard reception.
Defensively, the Vikings held Santa Barbara to 101 passing yards and consistently pressured Trimmer throughout the afternoon.
For a team that entered the game 0-3, the win provided a needed spark heading into the second half of the season.
“This one was very big to us because starting the season 0-3 is not easy for anybody,” Lowe said. “I feel like this win just really brought us together, and we can just keep going upward from here.”
LBCC travels to Allan Hancock next Saturday.
