Something has to give on Saturday when SBCC hosts L.A. Valley in its American Pacific Conference football opener. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in La Playa Stadium.
The Vaqueros are off to their best start (3-0) in 17 years and feature the No. 2 scoring defense in Southern California, allowing just 16 points a game. The Monarchs are also 3-0 and rank No. 6 in Southern Cal in scoring offense at 39.0.
Valley is ranked No. 24 in the state and No. 13 in Southern Cal. The Vaqueros moved up three spots to No. 17 in Southern Cal. The Monarchs have the No. 1 APC defense in yards allowed (257) and the fourth-best scoring defense at 23.7.
“We need to take care of the football, execute on special teams and play sound defense,” said SBCC’s seventh-year coach Craig Moropoulos. “I know these are cliches but they fit in a game of this magnitude. Valley is very well-coached and they’re a very good football team. It will take a great effort to beat them.”
Vaquero quarterback Jarred Evans, a 6-3 sophomore, was the APC offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 321 yards and four second-half touchdowns in a 27-24 win at Compton.
Evans has passed for nine TDs this season with four going to Jacob Arnell, the Vaqueros’ top receiver (14 catches, 220 yards).
Valley’s Patrick Tyler completed 27 of 44 passes for 285 yards and three TDs in last Saturday’s 30-14 triumph over Mt. San Jacinto.
SBCC linebacker Morgan Nevin leads the state in tackles at 15 per game and had a career-high 21 against Compton.
