Sophomore quarterback Will Madonna’s 5 touchdown night wasn’t enough to seal the deal as the Long Beach City College Vikings lost 45-40 Saturday night against the Riverside Community College Tigers at the Vikings home turf.
Long Beach came out of the gates looking fierce as quarterback Madonna showcased spectacular offense including 39, 36, and 97-yard touchdowns with assistance from teammates Jaquavion Caldwell, Chad Sabal, Tstrong Mataele and Remil Brown, all within the first half.
Madonna completed 20 of 43 passes, amassing an impressive 440 yards in the process.
What truly set him apart were his five touchdown passes, each one a testament to his accuracy, vision, and ability to perform under pressure.
These touchdowns were the driving force behind Long Beach’s relentless pursuit of victory throughout the game.
The Tigers were undeterred as they quickly countered with 21 unanswered points and another touchdown in between the Vikings three touchdowns.
The 3rd quarter started great for the Vikings as a 30-yard touchdown pass from Madonna to Kyle Miller gets it started as well as an interception by safety Hagen Foreman
While a pivotal interception by Foreman suggested a momentum swing in Long Beach’s favor, mistakes on both sides of the ball allowed Riverside to regain control, extending their lead.
The Vikings refused to surrender. Madonna orchestrated yet another 65-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass to wide receiver Cieonta Davis, injecting excitement into the game yet again.
As the fourth quarter dawned, the Vikings were playing catch-up, but their defense roared back to life. Ricardo Abrego and Isaiah Watson recovered fumbles in the early minutes, providing hope.
Regrettably, Long Beach couldn’t capitalize on these opportunities, while the Tigers capitalized on punting unit blunders to score another touchdown, bringing the score to 45-34.
Madonna rallied his team once more, connecting with Kyle Miller for the last 28-yard touchdown pass of the night to make it 45-40. However, time ran out for the Vikings in their valiant comeback effort.
“We just got to finish, that was the number 2 team in the state of California,” Vikings’ head coach Brett Peabody said post-game.
“We had every opportunity in the world to beat them, we didn’t get it done. They listen to our coaching staff pretty well, I think we’re going to have a great season.”
Despite the loss, Madonna won the SFCA offensive player of the week award. In recognition of his exceptional skills and contributions to the team’s offensive firepower.
His performance not only made a significant impact on the game but also solidified his position as a key player to watch in the upcoming season.
“A couple little things here and there that were really the big determining factors, we just got to get on the same page.” Madonna said.
“We have a lot of new guys, it definitely was beneficial to see the game on film. It’s definitely one thing to be in the moment, but when you’re able to watch it back, you could really learn from anything.”
The Vikings are looking to get in the win column against the Bakersfield Community College Renegades this Saturday, with another home game slated for September 16th against the Southwestern Community College Jaguars.