A splashing and smashing Saturday for DVC sports
Diablo Valley College athletics had a sensational Saturday, in the pool and on the football field.
The Vikings men's and women's water polo teams repeated as NorCal Regional champions in front of their home fans. They will both compete in the California Community College Athletic Association state championships on Friday and Saturday at Pasadena City College.
In football, the Vikings finished the National Bay 6 Conference season with a smasher -- a 35-32 win over host Santa Rosa in overtime. California High graduate Brandon Brown booted a 37-yard field goal to decide the outcome. An interception by freshman Kyle Trego (Liberty) set up the kick.
DVC coach Mike Darr was thrilled with his team's play.
"The entire team played well and the big dogs came ready to hunt," Darr said.
But the Vikings (5-5, 3-2) were disappointed not to receive a bowl berth for the sixth straight year, despite finishing in a three-way tie with Santa Rosa and College of San Mateo for second place in one of the nation's top conferences.
The CCCAA Football Bowl Game Selection Committee on Sunday tabbed Santa Rosa (6-4) and Modesto (5-5) for the North State Bowl in Santa Rosa -- the most plausible destination for DVC.
Quarterback Drew Anderson of Miramonte had one of his best effort of the season in Santa Rosa, "spreading it around to everyone," Darr said.
Anderson, a redshirt freshman transfer from San Diego State, was 34 for 48 passing for 397 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore Marcus Armstrong-Brown (Justin-Sienna) had 11 receptions and two touchdown catches, and CJ Cornwell (California) added to his state-leading total with eight reptions for 105 yards and a touchdown. With an impressive 91 catches this season, Cornwell bettered the DVC season record by more than 20. Nick West (Liberty) had seven receptions for 118 yards.
Defensive lineman Chris Mulumba of Finland, a transfer from Chabot, was once again "unblockable," Darr said. Mulumba and Franklin Uesi (College Park) each had a sack. Thompson Pulu (Hayward) saved his best for last with four sacks as the Vikings had Santa Rosa quarterbacks on the run all night.
Darr said Trego finished an "unbelievable" freshman year with his interception.
Water men's water polo
The DVC men (20-12, 7-0 Big 8) earned an third consecutive trip to the CCCAA State Championship with an 18-11 triumph over West Valley in the NorCal final.
In an all-Vikings battle, DVC will face nemesis Long Beach City (22-5) in the semifinals at 10:30 a.m. Friday, with the winner advancing to the championship game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
LBCC, the No. 2 seed from the South, earned two close wins over DVC this season, and has beaten DVC in the state semifinals the past two years.
Riding an eight-game winning streak, the Vikings have prepared for the big stage by combatting a typically fierce schedule, including opening the season in the Navy Open and Princeton Invitational.
Women's water polo
DVC (25-2) beat Big 8-rival San Joaquin Delta 11-7 in the NorCal Regional final to lock up the No. 1 North seed heading into the state final four. It was the Vikings' third consecutive win over Delta, the only team from Northern California to beat them this season.
The Vikings, who finished third in the state last year, will face South No. 2 San Diego Mesa at noon Friday in the state semifinals, with the winner advancing to the 2 p.m. championship game.
South No. 1 Riverside will face North No. 2 Delta in the other semifinal at 3 p.m. Friday
Cross country
Vikings runners Ariana Corwin and Kin Wong will compete as individuals at the CCCAA State Championships on Saturday morning at Woodward Park in Fresno.
Corwin finished 27th in the women's 3.0-mile NorCal Regional in Salinas, and Wong tied for 17th in the 4.0-mile men's NorCal Regional.
Wong won the Big 8 Conference individual championship, covering the 4.0-mile course in a season personal record of 20 minutes, 50 seconds, finishing ahead of a pack of five American River runners. Corwin completed the 3.0-mile women's Big 8 race in 20:23, placing seventh.
Men's basketball
After a week off, the Vikings (0-2) will return to action against Cabrillo in the Shasta Tournament on Friday. DVC will host the Diablo Valley Classic on Dec. 3-5.
Women's basketball
The Vikings (2-1), led by Jojuan Carrington (Dublin), a freshman averaging 17.7 points a game, will return to action in the Kiwanis Ventura tournament, beginning Nov. 27 against Canyons.
Women's volleyball
The Vikings (7-13, 3-10 Big 8) finished the season with back-to-back 3-0 losses to Delta and Sacramento City.
Women's soccer
Diablo Valley (8-5-7, 5-4-5) completed the Big 8 season with a 3-3 draw against Modesto and a 2-0 loss to Delta. The Vikings had a 3-1-2 record over their final six conference games.
Team scoring leader Julia Curran (Ygnacio Valley) had two goals and an assist against Modesto, and has eight goals and five assists, good for 21 points, this season.
Stay tuned for updates on the NorCal playoff seedings.
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Matt Schwab