Mike Reisbig’s first season as head coach of the Long Beach City College football team didn’t quite go the way he envisioned.  The season started well with the Vikings, getting off to a 3-1 start in non-conference action before the reality of the toughest conference in the nation hit LBCC.

Long Beach lost its first five SCFA National Division Southern Conference games before ending the season on a winning note with a thrilling 50-46 come-from-behind win at Orange Coast College.

Although it has been 10 months since that win, Reisbig hopes to add to the Vikings’ current winning streak as well as contend for a conference title and a playoff spot in 2009.

In looking at the 2009 Vikings, one thing will hit you immediately … numbers. Nearly every available uniform number is taken and the Vikings start the season with over 100 players. LBCC’s opening week roster features 34 sophomores and is freshman heavy with 60 first-year players.

The Vikings have had a tradition of great throwing quarterbacks and looking to step in to fill that role is freshman Kevin Lubner. Originally out of Wilson High School, Lubner spent the past two seasons learning the ropes at nearby El Camino College.

“Kevin is older and more mature than our other QBs,” said Reisbig. “Learning a college system for two years at El Camino definitely gives him an advantage.”

Freshmen Morgan Fennell (Poly HS) and Ryan Craighead (Wilson HS) open the season as the primary backups.

The Vikings look to improve on a running game that at times was lacking last season because of injuries.

Freshman Daveon Barner (Poly HS) will start at tailback with sophomore Randy Franklin (Millikan HS) leading the way at the fullback spot.

“Daveon has great feet, he’s quick, smart, and fearless,” said Reisbig. “Randy runs downfield, he doesn’t lose yards, he’s a good blocker, and he’s smart.”

Also look for freshmen Ruben Laurente (Lakewood HS) and Marveon Phillips (Paramount HS) at tailback and freshman Tua Leiataua (Cabrillo HS) at fullback.

Freshman Martin Li’o out of Cabrillo HS will get the starting nod at tight end this season. Reisbig says, “Martin is as tough as they come. He might be undersized, but he has great hands.”

Freshman Jordan Fata (Carson HS) will be the backup at tight end.

Another traditional strength of the Vikings has been wide receivers and this year will be no different.  Sophomore Brandon Joseph (Millikan HS) tops the list and returns after leading the Southern Conference last season with 54 receptions. He also totaled 609 yards and four touchdowns.

Reisbig expects NAIA transfer Darrius Young (Shannon, MS) to have a big season for Long Beach. Young comes to LBCC after spending 2007 at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi.  Others expected to handle starting receiver duties include sophomore Chris Williams (Lakewood HS) and freshman Tyrone Martin (Poly HS).

Williams caught 14 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns last season. Martin at 6-6 will be the Vikings’ biggest target.

Reisbig expects sophomore Terry Dapremont (Poly HS), and freshmen Mike Balque (Lakewood HS), Jordan Johnson (Poly HS), and Deondre Powell (Gahr HS) to also play a role on offense at the receiver position.

Another strength of Long Beach should be its offensive line. Anchoring the line will be sophomores Malu Sala (Jordan HS) at left guard, Vai Soon (Honolulu, HI) at right guard, and Eddie Prado (Paramount HS) at right tackle. Freshmen Ceaser Tenorio (Western HS) at left tackle and Kevin Williams (Cabrillo) at center round out the offensive line.

Also look for sophomore Wade Phillips (Lakewood HS) and freshmen Seko Fiatoa (Las Vegas, NV) and Joseph Croom (Poly HS) to see time in the trenches.

Shifting to the other side of the ball, Reisbig expects the defense to be improved after the squad enters the second year under a new defensive scheme.

As of press time, decisions on the defensive line were still being made. “It’s still up in the air,” said Reisbig.

But look for sophomores Lawrence Alai (Sacramento, CA), Zach Fua (Valley Christian HS), Moses Williams (Dominguez HS), Nick Noga (Cabrillo HS), Ricky Finau (American Samoa), and freshmen Siaki Cravens (Temecula Valley HS) and Robert Williams (Cabrillo HS) to all compete for positions.

Second-team All-Southern Conference outside linebacker Dylan Busser (Loveland, CO) returns to man his position. Busser was sixth on the Vikings last season with 37 tackles and added 2.5 sacks.

Sophomore Richard Barnes (Dominguez HS) should handle the other outside linebacker spot and freshman Holman Faatili (Bellingham, WA) is slated to start at the middle linebacker position.

Look for sophomores Mike Johnson (Jordan HS), Gazzi Nansen (Cabrillo HS) and freshman Francisco Cedeño (Sacramento, CA) to see time at the linebacker spots.

In the defensive back field, Reisbig will look to sophomore transfer Genesis Fonoimoana (Poly HS/LA Harbor) to be a force at free safety. “Genesis is as good as anyone in the state,” Reisbig said.

At strong safety, sophomore Thomas Mahoney (Poly HS/Cerritos) heads the list to start. Others who should see time at one of the safety spots will be sophomore Iosefo Mikaele (Poly HS), and freshmen D’Andre Lewis (Lakewood HS) and Fred Rogers (Dominguez HS).

Freshmen Darius Williams-Fox (Poly HS) and Eric Hayes (Lakewood HS) are slated to start at cornerback. Sophomore Ellis Anderson (Poly HS) posted 54 tackles and should also see time on the field.

“A lot of these guys will be playing,” said Reisbig. “We plan to shuffle guys in and out depending on their strengths and the situation in the game.”

An area of vast improvement will be the kicking game for the Vikings this season. “We’ve gone from the outhouse to the penthouse this season,” Reisbig said.

Sophomore Kevin Van Voris (Elizabeth, CO) and freshman David Covey (Millikan HS) will share kicking and punting duties. Van Voris was an all-state kicker as a high school senior in 2005 and Covey earned All-Moore League honors as a senior in 2006.

Handling punt returns will be Fonoimoana and will be backed up by Chris Williams. On kickoff returns, Fonoimoana and Young will get the majority of plays, with freshmen Willie Lee (Seattle, WA) and Jordan Johnson (Poly HS) also seeing time.

You might notice there are a lot of local guys on the roster—that’s because there are a total of 37 Moore Leaguers on the roster.  Reisbig said that’s for a reason: “I think it’s a slap in the face to the local guys to go out-of-state too much.  The best football players in the country are right here.”

Reisbig and the Vikings will once again face one of the toughest schedules in the state. Seven of Long Beach’s 10 opponents are ranked among the state’s top 25 in the CCCFCA/JCAB preseason poll.

LBCC opens up the season at Veterans Memorial Stadium on September 5 against Los Angeles Harbor College. On Sept. 12, LBCC heads to No. 3 El Camino College for the first of two rivalry games. The winner of the LBCC-ECC game takes possession of the Battle Axe.

It doesn’t get any easier as Long Beach hosts No. 14 Cerritos College on Sept. 19 in the battle for the Crosstown Cup.

The Vikings are at West Los Angeles College on Sept. 26 before getting a bye week on October 3.

LBCC returns to action and opens Southern Conference play at No. 18-ranked Grossmont College. The Vikings are home for their next two against No. 11 Saddleback (Oct. 17) and No. 9 Palomar (Oct. 24) before hitting the road for two straight.

Long Beach is at No. 22 Santa Ana on Oct. 31 and No. 5 Fullerton on November 7. The Vikings close the regular-season schedule at home against Orange Coast College on Nov. 28.

“There is nowhere to go but up,” Reisbig said. “I like what we’ve got this season. The team is working really hard in practice and hopefully that translates on to the field.” 

With reports from LBCC’s Chris Ruiz