Once again, Santa Barbara City College got off to a fast start Saturday and didn’t look back in putting up a 63-0 football win over visiting L.A. Pierce College at La Playa Stadium.
The win is the Vaqueros’ fifth straight and puts them at 5-1 on the season, and a 1-0 to start American Pacific League play. The overmatched Brahmas fall to 0-6 and 0-1.
Pleasing to SBCC coach Craig Moropoulos was the strong play in all phases of the game, as executed by starters and substitutes alike.
“We got everybody that could play to play, and they all played hard the whole way through,” Moropoulos said. “I was proud of them.”
The game featured another stunning performance by sophomore running back Brandon Smith, who rushed for 156 yards on 16 carries and a 52-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter.
That run displayed both his moves and strength, as he broke what looked like a sure tackle eight yards in. Smith, from Chicago, now has 810 yards on 105 carries in six games, for a 7.7 yards per carry average and eight TDs.
“Brandon Smith had another phenomenal game, and I sure hope he gets recognized, because if people aren’t coming to see him play — I mean, goodness sakes,” Moropoulos said. “He’s something else. He’s a hard guy to stop.”
The Vaqueros were strong out of the gate with a 21-0 first quarter, with defense and special teams giving the offense great field position. The first two drives started on the Pierce 34 yard line, ending with TD passes from starting QB Alex Johnson — 9 yards to BJ Phillips and then 23 yards to Kayden Chan, respectively.
The third SBCC drive started on the Pierce 8-yard line, after Vaquero defensive backs Chris Waddell and Jamari Cannon sacked Pierce quarterback Peyton Pelletier for a loss of 11 yards on a fourth-down play.
Two plays later, Johnson punched it in from 1 yard out for the third score. After Joe Bowman’s extra point, it was 21-0 with five minutes left in the first quarter.
Bowman, a bright light on special teams, went 9-for-9 on PATs Saturday, and hasn’t missed any all season, through many Vaquero touchdowns. SBCC is winning by an average of 45-10, even factoring in the season-opening 21-10 loss to Allan Hancock.
Johnson had an efficient day, connecting on 8 of 10 passes for 143 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Backup QB Trenton Luera didn’t throw any interceptions either. Quarterback Shaun Smith also saw action.
“The thing that’s not really evident to a lot of people is exactly how those guys manage the game,” Moropoulos said of his quarterbacks. “Because they’re constantly alert to check plays, and they’re constantly aware of what’s good and what’s not good. Today they were darn near perfect in their checks.”
While giving away no interceptions, SBCC picked off four, three of which resulted in scores. The Vaqueros won the ground game 265 yards to 7.
A lot of praise to go around — coaching staff, special teams — and Moropoulos started with the lines.
“It all starts with both lines, the offensive and defensive line,” Moropoulos said. “That’s exactly who should be recognized first and foremost, because they make it happen for the guys in the back … And they did a great job today.”
There was “no rubbing it in” regarding the final score, he said.
“We wanted to make sure that whoever was in there, that they were playing full speed and 100 percent, and to their credit they did.”
SBCC is home again next week for another American Pacific League game, against L.A. Valley at La Playa Stadium. Game time is 1 p.m.
“We’ve got to keep working, because we’re on a mission in our program,” Moropoulos said. “And we take it one game at a time, and we want to make sure that we’re giving 100 percent to every quarter, every play, and we know at the end of the day it’s all going to take care of itself if you do that.”