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The Long Beach City College football program has had a roller coaster season as they looked to make a return to the postseason.
After losing their first two games, the Vikings won five straight and then lost two straight to make Saturday night’s contest against Citrus a must-win if LBCC wanted to make it to a bowl game.
Thanks to a last-second interception by Long Beach Poly grad Mookie Davis, LBCC defeated Citrus 17-14 to punch their ticket to the postseason.
“I just had to make a play, man, we were in man coverage, and I just read the quarterback and I’m thankful for all my teammates, the D-line getting pressure and my other DBs. They were covering guys so I was able to get in a spot where I can make a play on the ball,” Davis said of his last-second interception.
The Vikings defense came out of the gate flying as they forced an early fumble to put the LBCC offense on the field with a short porch.
LBCC (6-4) wasn’t able to capitalize on the field position and settled for a 34-yard field goal by Eric Zavala to put the Vikings up 3-0 with 12:25 left in the first quarter.
Both teams’ defenses came up with huge outings as the Vikings and Owls went scoreless in the next ten drives with the Vikings missing a field goal to extend the lead.
The Owls (5-5) finally got things going offensively thanks to some hard running from Jamahl Wilson which opened up just enough passing lanes for Jake Denerson found Ridge Christlieb for a 6-yard touchdown to give Citrus a 7-3 lead late in the first half.
“We just had to make some adjustments,” LBCC coach Brett Peabody said. “We had three guys out on the offensive line tonight and then we had another guy where we had to make an adjustment on the old line. So some guys were just not in positions that they’re normally into, but once we made the adjustments, they kind of settled into the game and you know, what a great hard fought win for these boys.”
Those adjustments proved to be fruitful for the Vikings as quarterback Jett Peddy connected with Marques Guzman twice, with the second being a 24-yard touchdown to put LBCC up 10-7.
The Vikings’ defense once again came up big on the next drive forcing their second turnover on downs.
LBCC extended the lead to 17-7 after 52-yard drive was capped by a 1-yard touchdown by Khalil Warren.
The Owls didn’t stand down as they answered right back thanks to a LBCC unsportsmanlike conduct that kept their drive alive and Hakim Haliburton scored on a 7-yard run to make it a 17-14 Vikings lead with 14:23 left.
Both teams’ defenses locked in and after the Vikings came up short on a fourth down conversion inside the Citrus 20, the Owls went marching down field with 1:54 left in the game.
Davis’ interception would cap the win as the Vikings offense ended the game in victory formation to let time expire.
LBCC will now await their postseason fate and see if they will be back at Veterans Memorial Stadium or play their next game on the road. Depending on that draw, Saturday night’s win could be their last at the current Vets Stadium, which is set to begin full-scale renovations following the season.