The No. 5 Long Beach City College football team fell to the No. 12 Ventura College Pirates 30-24 on Saturday evening at Veterans Memorial Stadium. With the loss, the Vikings still hold on to the National Northern League championship in a three-way tie with Ventura College and College of the Canyons. This is Head Coach Brett Peabody's fourth conference title.

The Pirates were first on the board with a 28-yard field goal. The Vikings answered back with a touchdown run from freshman quarterback Derrach West to top Ventura 7-3. The Pirates finished out the first quarter with a seven-yard run to take back the lead 10-7.

In the second quarter, the Pirates hit a 40-yard field goal, but then freshman kicker Alfredo Flores answered back with a 35-yard field goal to only trail the Pirates by three points. Ventura then hit another field goal to close out the half with the 16-10 lead.

The Pirates shut-out the Vikings in the third quarter with back-to-back touchdowns, but then the Vikings turned it around in the fourth quarter with a 15-yard run from West at the 11:27 mark to start the Vikings' offensive comeback. Sophomore running back Talaun Patton was up next for the Vikings as he scored a two-yard run to bring the Vikings to only trail the Pirates by six points.

Freshman defensive back Dallas Burke scored a safety for the Vikings with three minutes left in the game, but the Vikings weren't able to score again and ultimately fell to the Pirates 30-26.

Despite the loss, the Vikings have clinched a conference title and a bowl game appearance. Please stay tuned to www.lbccvikings.com for further information regarding the bowl game.