Pirates Push No. 1 Riverside Despite Playoff Loss

Proving they belonged with the "big boys" in the four-team Southern California Football Association playoffs, the No. 8-ranked Pirates pushed No. 1 Riverside before falling late 51-37 in the National Bowl and SCFA semifinals Saturday.  Riverside scored the game-sealing touchdown with 2:22 remaining in the game to end VC's second banner season in the past three years.

The Pirates (6-5) had taken great care of the ball all season, until the playoffs.  VC uncharacteristically turned the ball over three times in the first 17 minutes of the game, resulting in 13 Tiger points.

Ventura fumbled on the third play of the game, leading to a Riverside field goal and an early lead. The Pirate kick return team took over from there, as Paul Harris took the ensuing kickoff back 100 yards to the end zone for a touchdown.  Ventrua's PAT attempt failed, and they led 6-3 with 11:03 still remaining in the first quarter.

After the teams traded punts, RCC took the ball 74 yards in 11 plays, capping the drive with another touchdown to take a 10-6 advantage.  on the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers tried to pooch the ball, but Aaron Davis was waiting, taking it back 82 yards to the house, reclaiming the lead for the Pirates, 13-10.

Riverside wasted little time in answering, scoring on a 64-yard pass to give them a 17-13 advantage as the opening period came to a close.

On the ensuing drive, VC quarterback Marc Evans tossed just his second interception of the year. The Tigers capitalized with another field goal to take a 20-13 lead with 14:23 remaining in the first half.

With Ventura driving on the next possession, another fumble cost them dearly, as RCC picked up the loose ball and returned it 60 yards to paydirt.  The successful extra point made the score 27-13 in favor of the Tigers at the 12:59 mark.

VC remained unfazed, however, calmly driving 61 yards in 10 plays, culminating in a 22 yard Jake Lanski field goal.  Then late in the period, Evans directed a 71 yard drive in five plays, hitting Chris Marshall with a 28-yard scoring strike to close to within 27-23 at halftime.

RCC took control in the third quarter with an opening-drive touchdown and a late field goal.  They went to the fourth with a two-score lead, putting the Pirates' backs against the wall.  Early in the final stanza, the Tigers seemingly closed the deal with another touchdown, putting them ahead 44-23 with 11:46 left in the game.

To their credit, Ventura did not give up the fight.  Harris returned the ensuing kick 70 yards, setting up Evans' 28-yard touchdown pass to Devontae Alfred on the next play.  Lanski's successful kick confirmed hope for VC.

After the Pirate defense forced a Riverside punt, Evans directed another scoring drive, this one 15 plays and 75 yards in 3:15, finishing it off with a 13 yard touchdown pass to Juan Soto.  Lanski's kick made it a 44-37 game with 4:53 on the clock, time enough for one final stand by the Pirate defense and one more chance for the VC offense.

The upset in the making was not to be, however, as Riverside sealed the deal with a 51-yard run to paydirt with 2:22 on the clock, dashing Pirate hopes and dreams.  Riverside held on for the 51-37 win, advancing to the Southern California title game while the Pirates made the long journey home to close the season.

Evans ended his Pirate career by completing 19 of 37 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Marshall had six catches for 72 yards and a score while Soto had five catches for 52 yards and a trip to the end zone.  Harris had 228 yards in kickoff returns.

Defensively, Matt Singleton led the Pirates with nine tackles and Jalen Oats recorded eight stops. Isaiah Jackson and Kameron Klein each produced seven tackles.

What a season it was for Ventura.  Against one of the toughest schedules in the country, the Pirates persevered, fighting through early losses to win big games in the Northern Conference.  VC sewed up the program's 11th conference title, the second in three years, with one game remaining on the schedule, and advanced to the playoffs for just the fourth time in school history.

They finished the year by pushing the state's No. 1-ranked team to the limit.  The played hard, they played fast.  And the Pirates provided fun time, for themselves and fans alike, in 2014.