The last time Allan Hancock’s football team faced Long Beach City College the game ended up being a dogfight.

The Bulldogs ground out a 23-21 win last year at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

But they made sure that would not be the case this season.

Hancock jumpęd out in front with a four-touchdown lead over the Vikings in the first half and held on for a 37-21 home win on Saturday afternoon.

The win put them in a tie with Mt. San Antonio College for first place in the Northern League standings.

“This team plays with pride and heart,” head coach Rick Aguilar said. “They just won’t quit.”

It might have not been the start that Aguilar dreamt of as the Bulldogs fumbled on their first two drives, but Long Beach’s offense also made some mistakes.

The Vikings coughed up their first fumble late in the first quarter that led to some Bulldogs momentum.

Quarterback Max Perrett completed a pass to wide receiver Odysseus Salavea to get onto the doorstep of the end zone. One play later running back Trevin Young scored on an 8-yard touchdown run.

The Bulldogs got news earlier in the week that their starting quarterback and leading rusher Tyson Scott would be out for the season with a knee injury, but that wouldn’t stop the offense.

After sophomore defensive back Jayden Nozil intercepted Long Beach quarterback Logan Ebnet, Hancock marched down the field and doubled their lead with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Zach Sendejas.

“We had some adversity early but our defense stepped up this afternoon,” Aguilar said. “It doesn’t back down for anybody. That’s why I love this team.”

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Even after Long Beach made a quarterback change in the second half bringing in Kayde Bodine, the defense was not phased. That included stopping the Vikings on two separate goal line stands.

“Any type of challenge that may come, the defense addresses it,” Aguilar said. “They have so much confidence in themselves.”

The defense forced four turnovers that included an interception and two fumble recoveries by sophomore defensive back Erick Salinas.

“Even when we get into some moments that could be really scary, we are still out here fighting for every possession,” sophomore defensive back Jayden Nozil said. “A lot of coaches say when you find the ball good things happen.”

With the defense leading the charge, all the Bulldogs needed to do was give the ball to their running backs.

Hancock finished the game with a combined 202 rushing yards from seven different carriers.

“We are stepping up to the challenge,” said Young, who finished with 15 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns. “Now we have to build off of it.”

Hancock will enter the bye week with a chance to rest any aches and pains but don’t think it’s going to be a vacation week.

Aguilar knows there’s plenty to work on as the season continues.

They have a Ventura College team in two weeks that has won the last 13 meetings.

“We have to go back to some fundamentals,” Aguilar said. “Ventura is a really good team and well coached.”