Allan Hancock College’s football team trounced Santa Ana on Sept. 6, 67-21, while 1,600 people watched.
It was a big day for the football program: their first home game—ever. That is to say, it was the first game played on Hancock’s campus in the school’s 61-year history.
The Hancock Bulldogs’ football stadium, which has been in the works for a couple of years, now has the basics: bleachers on one side, a scoreboard, and goalposts. And, for the first season ever, the Bulldogs no longer have to travel to Righetti High School when hosting teams in Santa Maria.
“It’s been a total team effort,” said head football coach Kris Dutra. “All the Hancock people got on board and really made it happen. It was really special.
Dutra said that the college president, Athletic Director Kim Ensing, and others involved with the program have shown support. “They’re trying to make this special. Step by step, but I think I can see a bright future for this program,” he said.
And the reception on Sept. 6 from the Hancock community? “It was amazing,” Dutra said.
The bleachers boast 1,200 seats; 1,600 people moved through the gate. “That doesn’t sound like much, but when your stadium is this small, it’s a big deal. And it’s a jumping-off point. We’re just starting this. The plans for the big bleachers—this is going to be a full-blown stadium here within six or seven years.”
Before, the team would bus out to Righetti High School with their gear when playing home games. “We had to take all of our equipment over there, and it was a real hassle, and on top of that we had to pay for it. This is nice. Real smart decision by the administration here for the long term,” Dutra said.
By numbers, he said, Hancock has a small team—Santa Ana boasts some 90 players to their 50-odd. “If you’ve got the right guys, it doesn’t matter,” Dutra said. “The meat and potatoes of our team—well, what you see is what you get. The guys we have are really solid.”
They have a long season ahead of them. Dutra figures their league is the toughest in California. Five of the 13 teams in their conference are ranked in the top 10 for junior colleges in the state.
“We played the No. 1 team in the country last year at home here, and it’s tough,” Dutra said. “You just have to take it week by week and keep the kids motivated. But I like our chances. We’ll see.”
This year, Hancock is bringing an impressive roster of players to the table—many of them local. They come from area high schools—Santa Maria, Righetti, St. Joseph, Lompoc, and Pioneer Valley high schools—as well as those farther away—Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles, and Templeton high schools. They have locals in the quarterback slot, on the offensive and defensive line, and stacking their special teams.
Dutra spotlighted a number of players. Among them was Pepe Morales, the Lompoc High School graduate who kicks field goals and returns punts for the Bulldogs. “He’s the state’s best kicker, in my opinion. Statistically, last year, he was No. 1,” Dutra said. “I think he’s a D1 player.”
How’d they get a solid base of local players?
“It kind of built. It wasn’t that way at first. Getting the local kids nailed down is really hard,” Dutra said. “I think a couple of them came out, they experienced the program, they really liked it, and they told their buddies. They came up to me and said, ‘I want to do this.’”
Saturday, Sept. 12, they traveled south to face off against Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). Hancock is upper division, and SBCC isn’t, so they don’t often play the same teams.
For 22 years, Hancock beat them every time; then, in 2013 and 2014, SBCC broke their streak and came out on top, twice.
“They beat us in real close games. They do a good job, and that’s the way it should be,” Dutra said. Ultimately Hancock lost to SBCC 21-20. The Bulldogs return home Sept. 19 to host Chaffey College.
Ralphie Arellano, another Lompoc High grad, is entering his second year at Hancock with plans to eventually secure a four-year degree in engineering. He plays strong safety for the Bulldogs.
“It’s just attacking the ball,” he laughed. “You don’t really have to worry about much, you just hit the person.”
A week later, he was still pumped about the Bulldogs’ win against Santa Ana. “Oh man, it was amazing,” he said “The field is really nice. I’m glad that people came out to support us. There was so many people here. It was sick.” He finished with seven tackles and recovered a fumble.
The staff and community at Hancock, he said, make the program worth it.
“It’s a great community, really local, easy transportation, just the easiest way possible. And we have a great group of staff teaching us everything—we all bought in already, we’re just focused on getting better,” he explained.
Curry Parham, once the quarterback for St. Joseph, said that it wasn’t just Arellano. “Everyone was pumped on it, and we had to give them a good show.”
Playing for Hancock, he said, is “a big thing.”
How’s that? “Since high school, I’ve realized how big of a thing it is. Real good for the community, especially being the smallest one out of all the games we play,” he said.
And, he added, “the competition we play is just crazy.” Now, at least, the Bulldogs have the advantage of facing that competition from their own turf.
Contact Staff Writer Sean McNulty at smcnulty@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Sep 17-24, 2015.