Hunter runs for three TDs in 57-6 season-opening rout

SBCC got off to a fast start and never looked back on Saturday in a season-opening 57-6 football rout of Compton at La Playa Stadium.

The 57 points tied for the second-most in school history and were just six shy of the all-time record, set on Nov. 9, 1996 in a 63-9 pounding of Ventura.

Trey Hunter, a freshman running back from Plano, Texas, rushed for 76 yards on seven carries (10.9 average), including three touchdowns of 2, 35 and 10 yards.

The Vaqueros outgained the Tartars 111-22 in the first half and led 40-0 at intermission.

SBCC also benefitted from four turnovers (3 interceptions, 1 fumble on a punt) and 14 Compton penalties for 102 yards.

"I'm not displeased with how we played," said 13th-year coach Craig Moropoulos. "I was pleased that we executed although we had some drops. For the most part, we played well today. Anytime you don't turn the ball over, that's a good thing.

"We ran the ball pretty effectively with Trey and Will Bayonne. We've got some guys that can run and some that can throw and catch. I'm pleased but we still have some things we have to tighten up."

Scotty Forbes started at quarterback for the Vaqueros and completed 6-of-9 passes for 55 yards. Three others played quarterback as well – Bradley Kleven, Franco De Luca and Jacob Villarreal.

"I thought Scotty did a good job," said Moropoulos. "He executed, there were a couple of balls he threw high, including one to a wide-open guy in the end zone. It's just little things. It's been a while since he was the starting quarterback in a football game."

Will Bayonne added 59 rushing yards and scored on a 14-yard run around the right side to make it 40-0 with 3:45 to go in the second quarter.

Tyree Barton set the Vaqueros up at the Tartar 22 by returning the first punt of the game 39 yards. The Vaqueros needed just three plays to score on their first possession with Hunter diving in from two yards out for a 7-0 lead. A short punt from deep in Compton territory set the Vaqueros up at the Compton 35. On second down, Hunter started to his right, make a nifty spin move and was off to the races on a 35-yard TD that made it 14-0.

Matthew Molina sacked quarterback Shamon Collay for a 13-yard loss on Compton's next possession. Two delay-of-game penalties moved them back to the 2 and punter Marco Medina couldn't grab a bounced snap on fourth down. Nazir Hopson, a freshman defensive back from the Bronx, N.Y., had interceptions go in and out of his hands on second and third down. Fittingly, he was the one who fell on the errant punt snap for the Vaqueros' third touchdown of the first quarter and a 21-0 lead just 10:13 into the contest.

Devan Tursini-White and Cole Hernandez had eight tackles apiece for the Vaqueros, who recorded four sacks and 14 tackles-for-loss totaling 76 yards. Hopson had six tackles, a fumble recovery for a TD and four pass break-ups.

"It was based on my teammates," said Hopson, who also had an interception and a 32-yard return erased by a holding penalty. "The D-line was doing their thing, pressuring the quarterback. He threw one up in the air and I just read my keys."

Dallas Redick, a freshman defensive back from Santa Barbara High, intercepted passes in the second and third quarters and Lars Bardenhagen, a sophomore DB from Hamburg, Germany picked off a tipped pass at the Compton 25 just before halftime.

The Vaqueros scored 19 in the second period on a 35-yard field goal by Lucas Eilbacher, a 13-yard quarterback sack and safety by Hunter Elliott, a blocked punt and TD recovery in the end zone by Jacob Shultz and a 14-yard scoring run by Bayonne.

Jaylon Smith had a 35-yard kick return to open the second half, setting the Vaqueros up at the Compton 48. Hunter ran for 17 yards and three plays later, he skirted around the left side for a 10-yard TD that made it 47-0.

Jordan Ebio got the final touchdown on an inside flanker reverse that covered 3 yards and boosted the lead to 54-6 with 3:04 to go in the third quarter. Jesse Mollkoy booted his sixth PAT of the day and added a 36-yard field goal on the third play of the fourth quarter.

The Vaqueros will travel to San Bernardino Valley on Saturday with a 6 p.m. kickoff.


A swarming Vaquero defense held the Tartars to 65 rushing yards and a 1.6 average.