Lemonaire, Coach Mooshagian Lead Pirates in Conference Honors
Sophomore defensive end Jesse Lemonaire was named the Southern California Football Association Northern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and head coach Steve Mooshagian was named the Coach of the Year, leading a score of Pirates honored by the Northern Conference in post-season awards. Lemonaire, the Hialeah, Fla. product, was a dominant force for the VC defense with 78 tackles, including 18.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, and 8.5 quarterback sacks this year while Mooshagian mentored the Pirates to their fourth straight conference title.
Sophomore defensive end Jesse Lemonaire was named the Southern California Football Association Northern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and head coach Steve Mooshagian was named the Coach of the Year, leading a score of Pirates honored by the Northern Conference in post-season awards. Lemonaire, the Hialeah, Fla. product, was a dominant force for the VC defense with 78 tackles, including 18.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, and 8.5 quarterback sacks this year while Mooshagian led the Pirates to their fourth straight conference title, their fifth in the past six seasons.
Lemonaire was joined on the defensive side of the ball by unanimous first-team All-Northern Conference picks Jaylen Watson at cornerback and Savion Simms as a punt returner.
Offensively, quarterback Jake Constantine was a unanimous first team all-conference pick, as were running back Thomas Duckett, wide receiver Kendric Mallory, offensive linemen Trevor Elbert and Jacob Gamble, and kicker Cooper Garcia. Center Dane Nelson also earned first-team all-conference accolades.
Seven Pirates earned second-team all-conference honors on defense. They included defensive tackle Jarryl Taylor, defensive end Kenny Turnier, inside linebacker Trennan Carlson, outside linebacker Bradley Taylor, safeties Alvin Pacheco and Steven Nolasco, and kick returner Kezio Snelling.
Offensively, lineman Tyler Orsini, wide receiver Sam Flowers, all-purpose back Tony Daggett and utility back Jared Thomsen also earned second-team all-conference awards.
Additionally, six Pirates earned honorable mention All-Northern Conference selections including offensive lineman Edward Laie, running back Gil Scott Jackson and wide receiver Dominic Benson on offense, along with cornerbacks Bryce Barnes and Chris Henry, and lineback Dondre Baker on defense.
Ventura went 8-3 again this season, with another perfect 5-0 run through the SCFA Northern Conference. They have won 15 straight conference games dating back to September 2015. VC has won outright or shared four straight Northern Conference titles, and five out of the last six, and has been dominant in conference play under Mooshagian, who just completed his eighth season, posting a 36-9 conference record since his arrival on campus prior to the 2010 season. VC is 20-2 during the course of the team's 4-peat and 30-4 in the past six conference seasons.