Marcus Horberg kicks the winning field goal on Saturday for the Vaqueros, lifting SBCC to its best start since 1991. (Presidio Sports Photos)
In a game that featured three blocked field goals and four missed PATs, it seemed appropriate that it all came down to one kick in a football showdown between undefeated teams SBCC and L.A. Valley.
The Vaqueros, ranked No. 17 in Southern Cal, rallied past the No. 14 Monarchs 25-23 on a dramatic 31-yard field goal by Marcus Hoerberg with 7.6 seconds to play before 1,546 fans on a warm Saturday at La Playa Stadium.
SBCC captured its APC opener and improved to 4-0 for the first time since 1991 when the Vaqueros went 9-1. Valley, ranked No. 24 in the state, was held 16 points below its season average of 39.0.
?It was one of the finest wins I?ve been involved with, even with the Canyons win a few years ago and the Hancock win this year,? said coach Craig Moropoulos.??This was special because of the heart our team showed.?
Sophomore Jarred Evans completed 25-of-42 passes for a career-high 335 yards and two Tds and one interception. Joshua Martin caught four passes for 83 yards.
Vaqueros head coach Craig Moropoulos celebrates the incredible win.
?We had trust in our whole team — offense, defense and special teams,? said Evans, who also rushed 17 times for 56 yards. ?We were down 23-22 late in the game and knew we had to come up with a big score. We trusted our kicker and he came up big.
?I talk to Marcus every day and tell him, ?Someday, there?s going to be a big game where you have to make a big kick.? He came up to me today and said, ?You were right.? ?
The Vaqueros trailed 17-6 early in the second period and 17-9 at halftime. They took their first lead at 22-17 after running back Connor Hustead scored two TDs. He caught an 8-yard pass in the flat and ran through two tackles to cap an 80-yard drive to cut the deficit to two. A 2-point PAT pass by Evans missed the mark.
Seven minutes later, Hustead capped an 88-yard march with a 1-run burst up the middle to put the Vaqueros ahead 22-17.
Valley regained the upper hand when Samuel Vences blocked a 35-yard field goal and Jeremi Ross returned it 43 yards to the Vaquero 32. Four plays later, quarterback Pat Tyler hit Lawrence Oliver for a 10-yard touchdown pass. A 2-point PAT pass failed and the visitors led 23-22.
The Vaqueros forced a punt late in the fourth quarter and took over on their own 7 with 2:21 to play. Evans guided the hurry-up offense on a 79-yard march in 12 plays, capped by the 31-yard game-winning field goal by Hoerberg, a 6-1 sophomore from Sollentana, Sweden.
SBCC ran 86 plays and dominated in first downs (31-20). The Vaqueros won despite losing the turnover battle, 3-1.
?It was a game with way too many mistakes by both sides,? said Moropoulos. ?But that?s what special about this team, they always come back and they don?t give up. ? When the offense struggles, the defense rises up. When the defense struggles, the offense rises up. And it?s great that the special teams got a win today. That?s special to me.?
Santa Barbara ran 86 plays while amassing a season-high 538 yards of total offense, including 203 on the ground. Tyler led Valley by completing 28-of-46 passes for 307 yards and a touchdown.
SBCC sophomore linebacker Morgan Nevin, the state leader in tackles, collected 15 tackles, 1? sacks and recovered a fumbled punt for his own team late in the second period.
Dillon Sheedy had 12 tackles and blocked a 35-yard field goal on Valley?s first possession of the second half. Free safety Zack Arnell had 11 tackles and a forced fumble and cornerback Marquis Cobb added 10 tackles.
Tavonte Jackson blocked a 21-yard field goal try in the first quarter and recovered a fumble on the first play of the final quarter.
?This was a big win but we can?t get our heads too high,? said Evans. ?It?s a long season with six more games to go and we just have to take them one-by-one.?
SBCC hosts L.A. Southwest on Saturday at 1 p.m.
