SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Football team was defeated by Bakersfield 31-7 at home Saturday night, finishing the Vaqueros season with a 4-6 overall record in their first year in the National – Northern conference.
"We didn't play well on either side of the ball," head coach Craig Moropoulos assessed the game. "We just didn't click."
Six plays into the game, Bakersfield scored a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. A few plays later, after an SBCC interception, Bakersfield drove 55 yards for another score, taking a 14-0 lead still with 8 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Vaqueros then went three-and-out, but the defense then forced a turnover on downs to get the ball back. SBCC was forced to punt again, though, and then both teams each went three-and-out twice consecutively.
Now into the second quarter, Bakersfield was able to put a drive together, converting 2 third downs and scoring another touchdown to take a 21-0 lead. SBCC lost a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and Bakersfield punched it in again to increase the lead to 28-0. That score would hold into halftime.
Out of the break, the Vaqueros got 2 first downs but ultimately the drive stalled. Punter Brandon Bowers pinned Bakersfield at their own 10-yard-line, but Bakersfield drove 87 yards and took 7 minutes off the clock before settling for a field goal, taking a 31-0 lead.
The Vaqueros got on the board early in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run from Shaun Smith. On the 81-yard drive, Smith went 4-4 in passing for 70 yards.
Both teams would go three-and-out, and a Terrance Biser-Coleman interception at the goal line would prevent the score from changing. Santa Barbara punted, and Bakersfield ran out the clock to 31-7 victory.
Will Doherty went 10-20 in passing for 83 yards, while Shaun Smith was 7-11 for 87 yards.
Kayden Chan led all receivers with 4 catches for 59 yards. Jake Foye caught 4 passes out of the backfield, contributing to his 55 all-purpose yards.
Jack Myers was all over the field, smashing the season high for an SBCC defensive player with a whopping 18 total tackles. Joseph Olsson had 9, and Matt Croteau had 7.
It was the final game in the SBCC career for Vaqueros sophomores.
"They've all got a ring. They'll always be a part of history here at SBCC," Moropoulos said, referencing the 2022 team that went 10-1—setting a program record for wins—and won the Beach Bowl.
As for the freshmen returning next season, Moropoulos added, "Yeah, they know what it's like [playing at this higher level of competition in the National – Northern conference]. We got to be able to take this experience and build on it. … We'll continue to build knowing what to expect.
"There's no breaks," Moropoulos continued, referencing the grind of the new schedule of opponents. "It is what it is. The high level of competition puts a premium on staying healthy. You've got to be up every week." The Vaqueros suffered some key injuries throughout the 2023 campaign, particularly to the offensive line, offensive skill positions, and secondary.
The Vaqueros will hope that experience and better injury luck can catapult them back to a winning record and beyond in 2024. Positive takeaways can be taken in SBCC playing some quality opponents tough this season, particularly being one or two plays away from beating conference champion Allan Hancock on the road, and competing at #4 Fullerton in the first game of the year.
"I appreciate my staff, the contributions of the players—they all work so hard. We've spent more time with each other than with our families over the past 4, 5, 6 months," Moropoulos concluded. "Hopefully you'll be better fathers, brothers, husbands, friends after you leave this program."
The Vaqueros will be back for 15 days of spring practice beginning around the end of March.
