Second ranked Mounties upset by #8 Long Beach City 41-38

LONG BEACH – The Long Beach City College Vikings came from behind to upset #2 Mt. San Antonio College 41-38. The Vikings were ranked #8 going into the contest played at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium Saturday evening.

The two teams traded scores in the first two drives for each team, as neither team was able to get the advantage going into the second quarter 14-14.

Mt SAC opened the game with a bang, as sophomore quarterback Justin Alo found Chris Gilchrist on a 70 yard bomb. Alo would then find Derrick Mason on a 76-yard bomb to retake the lead 14-7, after LBCC’s running back scored from five yards out to tie the score. City’s Kenny Potter found Josiah Blandon on a 76 yard pass to tie the game at 14-14.

Alo finished 16 of 38 for 334 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 30 yards on nine carries and two scores.

The Vikings then broke the game in the second quarter as they tighten its defense on the Mounties while scoring 12 unanswered points comprising of a Potter run sandwiched between two Alfredo Solis 41-yard field goals to take a 26-14 lead going into halftime.

Mt. SAC , however regained the momentum, ignited by a pick-six by Sitiventi Tamaivenato open the second half,  and two Alo scoring runs to retake a 38-26 lead.

Brock Dale then came off the bench to replace the injured Potter and immediately made an impact, scoring on a 1-yard run and then finding Anterio Bateman on a 15-yard pass which proved to be the game winner as the Vikings retook the lead 41-38.

Mt. SAC had one final chance to tie the game, but the field goal try was redirected short.

Mt. SAC (4-1) looks to go back to its winning ways as it hosts Grossmont college (2-2) who already holds an upset victory over then #1 Riverside City college.

Photo: Anterio Bateman scores the go-ahead touchdown courtesy of John Fajardo