DVC 'Around the Horn'

The DVC football team’s offense found it in the second half of a 44-20 win over upset-minded De Anza in the National-Bay 6 Conference on Saturday. The Vikings erupted for 41 points to obliterate a 10-3 halftime deficit.

They will likely need it again Saturday at powerful Santa Rosa (6-1, 1-1).DVC (5-2, 1-1) and the Bear Cubs will meet in a marquee matchup at 5 p.m.

This week, the Vikings moved up two spots to No. 5 in the NorCal-National Division rankings. Santa Rosa is in a three-way tie for the No. 2 spot with Butte and Laney.

Santa Rosa is coming off its first loss, 34-21 at City College of San Francisco. Bear Cubs quarterback Mitch Hood completed 27 of 60 passes for 297 yards in the setback, but was picked off four times. The Vikings know the feeling. They fell to visiting CCSF 49-7 on Oct. 14.

The Vikings’ second-half uprising was highlighted by three Desmond Nisby touchdowns, two rushing, one receiving. The Vikings outscored De Anza 27-3 in the fourth quarter.

DVC’s defense was stellar overall, generating seven sacks and three interceptions, including two Pick-Sixes.

A 61-yard TD pass from Jadon Brisendine to Marquese Surrell with 10:25 left in the fourth quarter, along with a Manny Lopez extra point, put DVC ahead to stay, 24-20. Nisby followed with a three-yard TD run, and Ryan Payne and Marcus de la Pena concluded the devastating surge with 35-yard interception returns for scores. Marquis Davenport also had an interception and 27-yard return.

Miles Harrison had four receptions and returned two kickoffs for 76 yards. Shane Morris had two returns for 46 yards. Sophomore Kory Lamberts had a monster game with a team-high two sacks, along with eight solo tackles and three tackles for a loss. Daron Bowles also had eight solo tackles, sharing the team lead in total tackles with Brenton Allen, each with 10. Ville Valasti had 1.5 sacks and is tied for third in the state with 10 sacks. Dylan Gilfoy, who is sixth in the state with 8.5 sacks, and Peter Moa each had one sack.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

The Vikings (11-1-4, 6-1-4), who dropped from No. 3 to No. 9 in last week’s national JC Division III Poll, are poised to make their final push for a possible Big 8 championship. They will host Modesto (10-5-1, 5-5-1) on Tuesday and Sacramento City (2-15, 0-11) on Friday.

Last week, the Vikings notched a dramatic 1-0 win over Cosumnes River, courtesy of a Karla Ramos goal in the 90th minute, and battled Folsom Lake to a 0-0 draw. Santa Rosa (12-2-2, 7-2-2) actually gave up some ground last week with draws against Folsom Lake (1-1) and Cosumnes River (0-0).

Thus, it promises to be a fierce fight to the finish line with five games left in conference play.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL The Vikings (9-8, 5-5) beat Cosumnes River 3-0 for the second time in conference play to even their Big 8 mark. Isabel Villalobos had a big game with 11 kills, hitting at a .409 percentage, and eight digs. Setter Jasmine Assia was excellent with 36 assists and 11 digs, and Brittany Portello had 10 digs.

Jade Lee was again the team leader in kills with 15.

DVC, which is tied for fifth, will host powerful Sacramento City (17-1, 9-1), in second place, on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

CROSS COUNTRY

The Vikings will compete in the Big 8 Conference Championships on Friday at American River.

WATER POLO

The Vikings women’s team (7-11, 1-5) had a solid week with wins over Southwestern 13-5, Cypress 9-6 and Chaffey 10-6 in the Battle at the Beach.

The DVC men’s team (8-12, 3-2) ended the week on an uptick, beating Santa Rosa 18-9 in the Big 8. Max Murphy came up big again with five goals, two steals and an assist, and Pat Hallahan and Zac Hudson both had four goals. Hudson also had two assists.Will Simpson had three steals and three assists.

The Vikings will gear up for the conference tournament on Nov. 3, including playing the alumni team on Wednesday.

-- Matt Schwab