Report by LBCC, photos by John Fajardo
The Long Beach City College football team suffered its third straight Southern Conference loss of the season, as the Vikings lost 44-23 to visiting Palomar College on Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Long Beach dropped to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play while Palomar improved to 7-1 and 3-1 in the Southern Conference.
LBCC led 13-6 after the first quarter but trailed just 16-13 at halftime before the Comets, ranked No. 6 in Southern California, blew the game open with 28 second-half points.
The Vikings needed just three plays on their opening drive to get on the scoreboard first. Freshman quarterback Kevin Lubner connected with sophomore wide receiver Chris Williams for a 38-yard touchdown pass at the 13:41 mark in the first quarter. Palomar blocked the Vikings’ PAT kick and Long Beach promptly led 6-0.
Palomar came right back to score after a 10-play, 60-yard drive. Running back Orenzo Davis scored from two yards out for the first of his four touchdowns on the night. After a missed PAT kick, the score was tied 6-6 with 8:54 left in the first.
Lubner and the Vikings countered with a long scoring drive of their own, going 92 yards in nine plays, capped by freshman running back Ruben Laurente’s 14-yard TD run and Long Beach led for the final time 13-6 with 2:38 to go in the first quarter.
Palomar’s Kevin Ditch nailed a 33-yard field goal (14:49) and Davis broke free for a 47-yard TD run on fourth down and one yard to go at the 7:11 mark in the second to give the Comets the 16-13 advantage at halftime.
The second half was all Palomar. Davis scored two more touchdowns (20,10-yards) and Martavious Lee caught a pair of TD passes (31, 30-yards) from quarterback Matt Christian to seal the win.
Sophomore Genesis Fonoimoana’s 77-yard punt return for a touchdown gave the Vikings hope, getting LBCC to within seven points (30-23) with 12:25 left in the game.
But the Comets’ defense held tough and closed out the game with a pair of touchdowns to cruise to the win.
Lubner closed the game throwing for 242 yards on 12 of 40 passing with one TD and an interception. Freshman Daveon Barner ran for 100+ yards for the fifth time this season, rushing 18 times for 102 yards.
Sophomore linebacker Dylan Busser totaled a game-high 14 tackles (6 solo) and added a quarterback hurry. Fonoimoana added 10 tackles (4 solo) in addition to his big punt return.
For Palomar, Davis ran for 175 yards on 21 carries and Lee caught seven passes for 130 yards.
Long Beach will play its next two games on the road and returns to action next Saturday (Oct. 31) with a 7 p.m. Southern Conference game at Santa Ana College.
