Tracy Jones/ Roundup news
After winning back-to-back games, the Brahmas winning streak came to an end Saturday at John Shepard Stadium against the Long Beach Community College Vikings, 38-35.
Before the game the team marched out together full of passion and excitement, while holding a huge bull horn, through the crowd of cheerleaders, yelling and pumping them up for there first home game. The crowd of fans cheered enthusiastically while welcoming their team home after being on the road for three consecutive games.
Pierce had a very good first quarter where they played well offensively but could have done better defensively.
A muffed punt return hurt them the most in the first quarter as it was recovered by the Vikings, allowing them to regain possession.
In the first quarter, the defense started off strong as Michael Hodeib got off the line around the end to sack the opposing quarterback. The very next play, Jaston Wells intercepted a pass and took it down to the Brahmas 37-yard line setting up the teams first scoring drive and the early 7-0 advantage.
LBCC however would respond quickly, marching right down the field, eventually punching the ball in from 6 yards out tying the game 7-7.
Costly personal foul penalties and missed tackles left Pierce coaches flabbergasted on the sidelines. This created another scoring opportunity for the visiting team that took full advantage scoring from 11 yards out taking the 14-7 lead, which would hold up going into the half.
Numerous dropped passes, overthrows, poor tackling, and penalties summarized the first half of play.
Long Beach coach Mike Reisbig was happy to be going into half time on the road with the lead.
“They played well, especially offensively to start the game,” Reisbig said.
In the second half Clinton Granger fumbled the ball on the Brahmas 40 yard line, that was recovered by a LBCC defender.
The Vikings quarterback completed a 40-yard touchdown pass on the very next play down the sideline making the score now 21-7.
Exavier Johnson started the beginning of the 3rd quarter for the Brahmas and moved the ball down the field eagerly. Daniel Berhe made a perfect catch at the 44-yard line for a 24-yard gain, but another penalty was called against the Brahmas nullifying the play.
Johnson then spotted Kenny Davis on the next play wide open with no Vikings insight completing the pass up to the LBCC 35-yard line.
Johnson’s successful drive would be short-lived as D’Andre Lewis of the Vikings stepped in front of the Brahma receiver for another costly interception.
The turnover bug would continue to haunt Pierce. Granger fumbled a hand off leading to a LBCC touchdown pass to Travon Payne and a 28-7 deficit.
Johnson, now back in at quarterback for the Brahmas connected with wide receiver Kenny Davis for a 27-yard scoring strike, Pierce seemed to be gaining some momentum, still trailing 28-14.
The fourth quarter started with the Brahmas down two touchdowns. The Vikings confidence on the offensive side of the ball was so high they went for a first down on 4th and 11. The Brahmas couldn’t hold them as the opposition found their way into the end zone yet again increasing their lead with time running out, 35-14.
All hope was lost as the stadium remained quiet. A pair of touchdown passes would close the gap, making it a one-possession ball game.
The last 34 seconds on the clock was intense. The Brahma fans were cheering on the team who had the ball. The ball is snapped back to Johnson, he draws back, he spots Damon Julian wide open, and “touchdown Brahmas.”
The crowd and team went crazy with excitement. The fans jumped up high fiving each other. The Brahmas just tied up the game. All of a sudden, yellow flags flew in the air from every direction. “Excessive celebration” against Pierce. A penalty that forced Steven Sandoval to kick a field goal from the 18-yard line turned out to be harmless as Sandoval slit the uprights.The game was tied 35-35 with 34.3 seconds left on the clock.
A combination of good special teams, clutch passes, and Pierce penalties, had Long Beach in range for a game winning 37 yard field goal attempt with 6 seconds left on the clock. LBCC kicker, David Covey kicked his team all the way to victory, defeating the Brahmas 38-35.
“LBCC is a good team that deserved to win,” Pierce head football coach Efrain Martinez said after the game. “This was such an emotional game, I was afraid of a letdown, and that was exactly what happened.”
Next Saturday night the Brahmas will look to right the ship at home against West LA College at 7:00 p.m.