With a new turf field and several former high school standouts from the area on the roster, including San Marcos alum Ben Partee at the quarterback position, Santa Barbara City College football is ready and eager to begin the 2021 season after an extra long offseason.
“The overall feeling of the team is excitement and energy,” head coach Craig Moropoulos said. “Everyone is looking forward to the start of the season, as it has been awhile since many of them have played a game. I know they are excited.”
The Vaqueros open the season on Saturday at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.
Moropoulos is heading into his 15th season as head coach after the 2020 season was canceled when SBCC opted out of playing sports because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The upcoming season includes 10 regular-season games, with the bye week coming on Oct. 9. Five of the games will be against American Pacific Conference opponents.
Moropoulos said he is excited over the “excellent local talent” he has on this year’s squad.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Partee, who this week was named the starter for the opener, is part of the local contingent of talented football players. He and wide receiver Josh Brown — his favorite target at San Marcos — reunite as Vaqueros after attending Gannon University together in 2020.
The defensive line is strengthened by the arrival of Jordan Tagaloa (6-2, 304 pounds) and Semisi Falemaka (5-10, 337 pounds) from Bishop Diego.
Former Santa Barbara standouts Dakota Hill and Ty Montgomery, who played on the Dons’ 2019 team that reached the CIF-SS Division 8 final, are on the squad. Hill is a wide receiver and Montgomery a kicker.
Dos Pueblos alum Cyrus Wallace returns as a sophomore wide receiver. Moropoulos said Wallace had an outstanding camp at wide receiver and slot.
Partee won a fierce competition among five players for the starting quarterback spot.
“There have been excellent efforts from the five guys competing,” Moropoulos said. “It was a great competition all summer between the quarterbacks.”
SBCC had a larger turnout of football players than in recent years. There are 98 players on the roster.
“We have excellent numbers, and the guys have a great attitude,” Moropoulos said. “The desire to get back on the field drives these young men, and we are seeing it in everything we do.”
The Vaqueros will play their first game on the new La Playa Stadium turf on Saturday, Sept. 11 against West L.A.