Vaquero loss extra painful

Santa Barbara City College’s 16-13 loss to visiting Santa Monica on Saturday hurt in more ways than one.

SBCC quarterback John Uribe dislocated his left elbow at the end of this 17-yard run.

The pain started when starting quarterback John Uribe suffered a dislocated elbow at the end of a 17-yard scramble early in the second quarter, likely ending his season. The rest of the team felt a jolt of agony later when, on the verge of field goal range and trailing by three points, the Vaqueros turned the ball over with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. 

After the game, Vaqueros head coach Craig Moropoulos wanted to share the pain with Oscar Medina, who lost the fumble but had performed well up to that moment as the quarterback, completing 12-of-18 passes for 100 yards while rallying the Vaqueros from 10 down. Although he had no catches on Saturday, Medina is the team’s leading receiver and isn’t even listed on the roster as a quarterback.

“(Medina) was our emergency guy and the emergency happened,” said Moropoulos, whose backup QB was ineligible. “He stepped up and played very well. It was unfortunate for him that it had to end like that.”

SBCC cornerback Aeryus Holloway outleaps Santa Monica's receiver to make an interception.

Freshman Jordan Esparza also saw time under center, throwing six times and recording a touchdown throw to Josh Misegadis. That fourth-quarter scoring drive was orchestrated by Medina, who was helped out by a pair of personal fouls from the Corsairs. 

From the 1-yard line, Esparza came in and ran a play-action bootleg and found Misegadis wide open. After 11 plays and 76 yards, Jeremy Waxman kicked the extra point to tie the game at 13-13 with 4:30 remaining.

Santa Monica turned around and drove 63 yards in 2:39 to retake the lead 16-13, settling for a field goal after SBCC made a defensive stand inside the 10.

Lamont Dupree took the ensuing kickoff 30 yards to put the Vaqueros on their own 47 with 1:32 to work with. Brian Felt and Nicholas Amey hauled in catches to move the chains, Amey’s being a 17-yard grab on 4th-and-16 that gave the Vaqueros a first down on Santa Monica’s 24 with a minute remaining.

On the very next play Medina fumbled, taking the steam out of La Playa Stadium.

SBCC falls to 2-4 on the year and 1-2 in the American Pacific Conference. Santa Monica won its first game of the season in five tries and is now also 1-2 in conference.

The Corsairs built a 13-3 lead early in the third quarter when Breonathan Shelton found Gerryl Benett for a 20-yard touchdown reception. 

The Vaqueros forced three turnovers on defense. Matt Racowschi, who led the team with eight solo tackles, recorded and interception as did Aeryus Holloway.

SBCC can feel better with a victory next week at home against first-place L.A. Pierce.

SANTA MONICA 16, SBCC 13

Santa Monica……..  6  0  7  3  – 16
SBCC…………….  0  3  3  7  – 13

Scoring Summary:
1st

00:00 SMC – Shelton,Breonat 1 yd run (Quintero,Angel kick failed)
                                                15 plays, 94 yards, TOP 8:01, SMC 6 – SBCC 0
2nd

01:48 SBCC – Waxman,Jeremy 25 yd field goal
                                                 7 plays, 13 yards, TOP 1:49, SMC 6 – SBCC 3
3rd

12:03 SMC – Benett,Gerryl 20 yd pass from Shelton,Breonat (Estrada,Rony kick)
                                                4 plays, 50 yards, TOP 1:44, SMC 13 – SBCC 3
01:02 SBCC – Waxman,Jeremy 28 yd field goal
                                               10 plays, 44 yards, TOP 5:09, SMC 13 – SBCC 6
4th

04:30 SBCC – Misegadis,Josh 1 yd pass from Esparza,Jordan (Waxman,Jeremy kick)
                                              11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 5:27, SMC 13 – SBCC 13
01:41 SMC – Estrada,Rony 25 yd field goal
                                               9 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:39, SMC 16 – SBCC 13