GLENDALE, Calif. – The SBCC football team won its third straight game on Saturday night, completing a second half shutout for the second straight week to defeat Glendale 24-6.
Following the battle of the Vaqueros, Santa Barbara improves to 3-1 while Glendale falls to 1-2.
While SBCC's offense couldn't get too much going early in the game, its defense would provide a huge spark. Santa Barbara forced seven turnovers – five in the second half alone – and blocked two kicks.
After heading into halftime trailing 6-0, SBCC received to open the third quarter and put together its first scoring drive of the day. Redshirt freshman Marcus Bellon accounted for a big chunk of the yardage through both the ground and the air, connecting with quarterback Trenton Luera for a big 23-yard conversion on 3rd-and-7 down to the Glendale 20. A Jorge Figueroa field goal from 29 yards out would cut the lead in half at 6-3.
Midway through the period, Santa Barbara forced its first of five second half turnovers, stopping Glendale quarterback Nicholas Garcia for a loss on 4th-and-3 inside the red zone. The turnover on downs led to the longest possession of the day for either side, as SBCC embarked on a nine play, 85-yard drive.
Luera hit Bellon for another third down conversion of 20 yards to start things off. Several plays later, he found wide receiver Cyrus Wallace for 28 yards. Then, after an SBCC false start backed them up to the 25, Luera made it 4-for-4 on the drive with a 25-yard touchdown to Jericho-Jon Foster, putting Santa Barbara up 10-6.
SBCC's defense and special teams shined in the final period. Bellon added to the lead early in the fourth quarter, taking a Glendale punt 45 yards to the house. With just under five minutes to go, defensive back Berry Buxton III – who had already picked off Garcia on the previous drive – took his second interception of the day back 75 yards to paydirt, extending the lead to 24-6.
Glendale moved it into Santa Barbara territory on its next possession, but the drive ended in an SBCC interception for the third straight time, as Gary McGowan snagged his first pick of the season.
Santa Barbara's defense also recorded two sacks on the day, one coming from Jaylin Turner. Defensive back Jamari Cannon was credited with a forced fumble.
On the offensive end, Luera finished 9-of-19 for 148 yards. Wallace led all players with 89 receiving yards on four catches. Bellon finished with four receptions for 75 yards and carried the ball nine times for 42 yards.
The Vaqueros will have a bye next week before returning to La Playa Stadium to face LA Pierce on Oct. 16 at 1:00 p.m.
