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Game Stats | Season Stats
October 29, 2005
Football:
LBCC upsets Fullerton 20-14, defense controls Chatman
The Long Beach City College football team pulled off its biggest win of the season, defeating No. 6 nationally-ranked and previously unbeaten Fullerton College, 20-14, Saturday afternoon in a Mission Conference American Division game at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.
The Viking defense came up big in the contest, holding the state’s leading rusher Joe Chatman to just 58 yards on the ground. Chatman entered the game with a state-best 1,225 yards rushing with 12 touchdowns, while averaging 175 yards per game.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Long Beach got on the scoreboard first. Sophomore defensive tackle Josh Tauanuu (Poly HS) set up the Vikings’ scoring drive with his 25-yard interception return to Fullerton’s 20-yard line.
Three plays later, sophomore quarterback Alex Aispuro (Jordan HS) connected with sophomore wide receiver Paul Robinson (Prattville, Ala.) for an 18-yard touchdown to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead at the 3:13 mark in the second.
Following the touchdown, the game suddenly turned into a track meet.
On the ensuing kickoff, Fullerton’s Kenny Stiger broke free for a 92-yard touchdown return (3:06).
Not to be outdone, Long Beach’s Brian Williams (Las Vegas, Nev.) took Fullerton’s next kickoff from two yards deep in his own end zone and raced it back 102 yards for a LBCC touchdown (2:52).
Long Beach and Fullerton combined for 21 points in just one minute and 21 seconds as LBCC took a 14-7 lead into halftime.
The Vikings went up 17-7 on sophomore Brent Crossen’s (Valley Christian) 33-yard field goal with 4:58 left in the third. Crossen added a 35-yard field goal midway through the fourth (6:55) and extend LBCC’s advantage to 20-7.
Fullerton made it close towards the end of the game after linebacker Jonathan Hayes picked off Aispuro’s pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown to cut the Viking lead to 20-14 with 4:18 left in the game.
But the Hornets would get no closer. On Fullerton’s final drive, the Vikings got sacks from Tauanuu and sophomore defensive end Henry Filo (Jordan HS) to close the game.
Aispuro closed the game throwing for 200 yards and a touchdown on 20 of 32 passing. Freshman running back Dane Walker (Wilson HS) led the Vikings with 53 yards rushing on 10 carries and seven receptions for 65 yards.
For Fullerton, Chatman rushed 25 times for 58 yards. His longest rush went just eight yards. Quarterback Casey Wheldon threw for 89 yards on 9 of 18 passing with three interceptions.
The win improved Long Beach to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the American Division. Fullerton fell to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in division play.
The Vikings return to action next Saturday (Nov. 5) when they host Pasadena City College in their final regular season home game. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
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