SBVC (1-0) blew open the doors of the 2015 season, taking a 21-0 lead early, then had to hold on for dear life as the Santa Barbara City Vaqueros (0-1) kept inching closer, but the home side defense slowed down the thundering herd, taking the opener midway through the fourth quarter, securing the win, 45-34.
SBVC sophomore quarterback Daniel Epperson (Phelan Serrano) went 21 for 36 with 269 yards and four touchdowns, including a long of 79 yards, and rushed 12 times for 34 yards. Sophomore defensive lineman Nick Aguirre (Fontana Henry J. Kaiser) led the team in total tackles, as he collected two solo and assisted on 11, including a forced fumble, 1.5 tackles for loss totaling four yards and 0.5 sacks. Freshman kicker Alex Raya (Beaumont H.S.) connected on a crutial 36 yard field goal early in the 4th quarter, made 8 kickoffs totaling 517 yards, including two touchbacks and made ten punts totaling 317 yards and two were inside the 20 yard line.
SBVC has been unkind to visiting teams for the past two years, holding onto an eight game home winning streak going into this afternoon's contest, which was extended to nine. SBVC took advantage of some key Vaqueros miscues, as Santa Barbara City fumbled the ball three times, losing the ball all three times and was intercepted once.
On the opening kickoff, the Santa Barbara City returner took the football off of the chest protector in the end zone and the ball trampolined out to the seven yard line where, alertly, sophomore defensive back Leon Smith (Riverside John Wesley North) picked up the football and fell to the ground. On the very next play, SBVC sophomore running back Kevin Dyer (Diamond Bar Diamond Ranch) darted in for a seven yard touchdown and after an extra-point from Raya, SBVC had a 7-0 lead eight seconds into the game.
The lone interception on the afternoon was snagged by sophomore linebacker Colbert Calhoun (Riverside John Wesley North) at the Vaqueros 22 yard line with 7:46 left in the first quarter. Three plays later Epperson connected with freshman tight end Samuel Dominguez (Riverside La Sierra) for an 11 yard touchdown toss, to give SBVC a 14-0 lead going into the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter a Vaqueros fumble directly benefited SBVC as the Santa Barbara City quarterback attempted to run out of the end zone and had the ball popped out by Aguirre and the football was grabbed by freshman defensive lineman Malivai Meyer (Las Vegas (NV) Shadow Ridge) for a huge touchdown. The score and the extra-point, gave SBVC, what appeared to be an insurmountable lead of 21-0.
Midway through the second quarter, the Vaqueros finally got on the board after a five play, 61 yard drive getting them to within 14, 21-7, but SBVC would not allow a score on their defense without an all-out offensive response. As SBVC took their first play from scrimmage and demolished the Vaqueros secondary when Epperson lobbed a perfect connection to freshman wide receiver Da'Quan Jenkins (Riverside John Wesley North) who scampered in from 79 yards to pay dirt, giving SBVC a 28-7 lead.
On the ensuing drive for Santa Barbara City, they fumbled again, as Meyer, once again, was making plays and the ball was recovered by sophomore defensive back Jeffrey Harman (Redlands East Valley) on the Vaqueros 12 yard line. After a seven yard rushing loss by freshman wide receiver DiAndre Jackson (Seattle (WA) West Seattle), Epperson gave another chance to his receiver and it paid off as Jackson caught a 19 yard dart from the SBVC quarterback, giving SBVC a 35-7 lead.
Santa Barbara City would connect on a 37 yard field goal as time expired in the first half and both teams went into halftime with SBVC up big, 35-10.
The Vaqueros would then score the next ten points unanswered, as they scored on a six yard quarterback sneak and another 37 yard field goal to make the score 35-20 going into the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Raya punch in a 36 yard field goal, giving SBVC a 38-20 lead, but the brief breathing room lasted 26 seconds as the Vaqueros took their third play from scrimmage and launched a 70 yard pass to shoehorn themselves back into the game, 38-27.
SBVC was not done, as they took their next drive and went 71 yards in six plays and scored on a pass from Epperson to freshman wide receiver Brandy Holmes (Columbia (SC) Irmo) for seven yards, giving SBVC a 45-27 lead.
Even as SBVC fans were still celebrating the touchdown by Holmes, the Vaqueros took the ensuing kickoff and ran it back 104 yards to get back into the game, 45-34 with 9:18 left. Surprisingly, with all of that back-and-forth, late in the fourth quarter, that's how the game would end.
Photo by Wade Byars.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information.