SBVC (5-4; 3-3) needed a win on the road to hold onto a chance at a post season bowl berth, but three missed extra point opportunities and a blocked 27 yard field goal attempt as time expired doomed the frustrated visitors in a game at the Chula Vista Southwestern Jaguars (8-1; 5-1), 46-44.
SBVC received a fantastic performance by the offensive line, getting two running backs sophomore running back Kendrick Dorn (Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos) and sophomore running back Alijah Watson (San Bernardino Cajon) over 100 yards for the second consecutive game. Dorn with 113 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns and Watson with 100 yards on 13 carries, averaging 7.7 yards per carry with a long of 29 yards.
Freshman quarterback Daniel Epperson (Phelan Serrano) tossed for 266 yards on 20 of 37 passing and three touchdowns, with three receivers grabbing over 70 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Gibbs (Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos) was once again his top target, with eight catches for 83 yards and sophomore wide receiver Darian Barrientos-Jackson (Omaha, NE Central) with six catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman wide receiver Lonnie Johnson (Gary, IN West Side) had four receptions for 74 yards on the evening.
The leading tackler for SBVC was freshman defensive back Kevin Stephenson (Rialto Eisenhower) with seven total tackles including three solo. Freshman linebacker Colbert Calhoun (Riverside J.W. North), sophomore linebacker Neamitupou Tuifua (Kailua, HI), freshman defensive lineman Siala Siliga (Redlands H.S.) and sophomore defensive lineman Spencer Hoff (La Verne Bonita) each had six total tackles each.
The Jaguars opened up the scoring with a field goal, but SBVC responded quickly with two touchdowns, an 18 yard scamper by Dorn and a 13 yard touchdown pass from Epperson to Johnson, after a missed extra point SBVC had a 13-3 lead. Southwestern would add another field goal and both teams ended the first quarter with SBVC up, 13-6.
SBVC would strike first in the second quarter with a 20 yard touchdown pass from Epperson to Barrientos-Jackson gave SBVC a 20-6 lead, but the Jaguars would respond with a visit to the end zone via the air and get back to within seven, 20-13. On the very next drive Epperson and Barrientos-Jackson would connect again, this time for a 17 yard touchdown pass, after another missed extra point SBVC held to a 26-13 lead.
Southwestern was not done as they put up a 29 yard touchdown pass and a 25 yard field goal to get within three late in the second quarter, but SBVC sophomore kicker/punter Cody Madsen (Redlands East Valley) got three points back on a 29 yard field goal, and both teams went into halftime with SBVC up 29-23.
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