2023 Ventura College Football Team News
The Ventura College Athletic Department claimed its 14th Top-13 finish in 19 years, placing 13th in California in the 2023-24 all-sports National Association of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Cup standings. Pirate Athletics totaled 106 points overall, besting its 105.5 points earned in 2022-23 that placed 12th. Ventura was also 17th for the second straight year in the Daktronics Cup Standings with two-years schools from California, Oregon and Washington.
The Ventura College Athletic Department is proud to announce the transfer of 71 student athletes to four-year schools following their time with the Pirates. 48 of those transfers plan to continue their sport with 34 earning athletic scholarships. The VC class of 2024 will transfer to 48 different schools in 19 different states across the country. Additionally, 17 of the Pirate alumni have earned academic scholarships at their new schools.
Ventura College football coach Steve Mooshagian has announced 21 transfers from the 2023 SCFA Finalist Pirate football team, four of whom were mid-year transfers. Among the transfers and signees, 12 are moving on to NCAA Division I and four to NCAA Division II. With the addition of these transfers, Mooshagian and his coaching staff have now helped 303 student athletes move on to the four-year level in his 13 years leading the Pirates.
Ventura College head football coach Steve Mooshagian is set to be inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame at a banquet on Saturday March 9 in Visalia. Through 13 seasons at the helm of the Pirates, Mooshagian is the winningest coach in program history with an overall record of 101-40 with nine Southern California Football Association Northern Conference titles and the 2018 SCFA title. Mooshagian has been a part of California community college football since he played at Cerritos College in 1977.
A former Ventura College alumnus had a huge play during Super Bowl LVIII Sunday. Jaylen Watson '18, a former VC All-American defensive back who now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, came up with one of the biggest plays in the Super Bowl, recovering a San Francisco 49ers fumble that led to a go-ahead score for Kansas City late in the third quarter.
VC football offensive tackle Jakob Lemus and defensive end James Gillespie both were named first team All-American by the California Community College Football Coaches Association for their play during the 2023 season. Lemus, a first team All-Northern Conference selection and Gillespie, the Northern Conference Defensive Player of the Year also headlined the Region III All-California first team selections by the CCCFCA.
VC defensive tackle James Gillespie, along with running back Lamonte James and offensive lineman Jakob Lemus were all unanimous selections to the Southern California Football Association first team All-Northern Conference teams in a vote by conference coaches. Tight end Cody Hoffman and running back Jaylen Thompson also earned first team honors on offense while safety Zane Carter was named first team all-conference on defense.
Another stellar season came to a familiar end for the Pirates football team as Ventura dropped a 45-26 decision to Riverside in the Southern California Football Association championship game Saturday at the VC Sportsplex. Quarterback Chris Irvin passed for 327 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Eli Aragon, who totaled 116 yards on 14 catches in the game. Meanwhile, the Pirates' running game was held in check by the Tigers, who ended VC's season for the third straight year and the for the fourth time since 2014.
After a slow start, the Ventura College football team outscored previously undefeated Fullerton 27-14 over the final three quarters Saturday afternoon as the No. 3-seeded Pirates defeated No. 2 Fullerton 27-24 to advance to the Southern California Football Association championship game. Lamonte James had 255 yards from scrimmage, including 195 yards rushing with a pair of touchdowns, and Zane Carter ran an interception back for a touchdown in addition to a strong performance as VC's punter to lead the way.
For the third straight season, and the six th time in seven seasons, the Ventura College football team have qualified for the Southern California Football Association Final Four Playoffs. VC (7-3), the No. 3-seed as the champions of the Northern Conference, will travel to No. 2 Fullerton (10-0), winner of the Southern Conference for a noon kickoff on Saturday Nov. 25. In the other semifinal, No. 1 Mt. San Antonio (10-0) hosts No. 4 Riverside (9-1) at 6:00 pm.
Having already clinched a share of the Northern Conference title and secured a Southern California Football Association playoff berth, the Ventura College football team had a trap game at College of the Canyons Saturday. The Pirates fell into the trap, falling in a 21-19 decision to the Cougars, who were playing to secure a post-season bowl berth. VC's dynamic running back duo of Jaylen Thompson and Lamonte James combined for 240 yards rushing and all three touchdowns in the setback.
With the Northern Conference title on the line, the Pirate football team came from behind to defeat El Camino 21-20 Saturday night at the VC Sportsplex. Ventura quarterback Chris Irvin completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Woodworth with 1:14 remaining in the game, and Ryan Pimentel provided the extra point for the winning margin against the Warriors. The win coupled with Canyons' loss at Bakersfield secured the conference crown and a playoff berth for VC with one game remaining in the regular season.
Pirate football's backfield duo of Lamonte James and Jaylen Thompson combined for 267 rushing yards and two touchdowns along with another 64 yards receiving, and quarterback Chris Irvin passed for one score and ran for two more as Ventura defeated Bakersfield 38-20 Saturday night at the VC Sportsplex. James ran for 167 yards and Thompson added another 103 as Ventura (6-2, 5-0) continued its unbeaten mark in Northern Conference play. Zan Carter had 11 tackles defensively to lead the Pirate defense.
The Ventura College football team scored four rushing touchdowns while amassing 223 yards on the ground Saturday to defeat Antelope Valley 35-16 in Lancaster. Jaylen Thompson ran for 108 yards and a score while Lamonte James recorded 65 rushing yards on 13 carries in the Pirate victory. The VC win, along with a loss by Canyons, left Ventura (5-2, 4-0), ranked No. 10/11 in the state, alone atop the Northern Conference standings with three games remaining.
In a spirited contest that was more competitive than in recent years, the Pirate football team retained the Citrus Cup for the 15th straight season with a 52-35 win over Moorpark at Griffin Stadium Thursday night. VC scored 14 points in the first five minutes of the game and never trailed in their 34th win in the 55-game history of the Ventura County rivalry. Lamonte James and Jaylen Thompson each racked up over 100 yards rushing and Chris Irvin passed for 285 yards to lead Ventura (4-2, 3-0).
The 52nd edition of the Big Game turned out to be a big win for the state No. 18-ranked Pirate football team Saturday night. VC rang up 56 points on overmatched Santa Barbara for a 56-25 triumph to retain the traveling trophy for the eighth consecutive game and the 17th time in the last 18 meetings in the series that dates back to 1963. Spencer McKelligon led a strong defensive effort with 10 tackles, four solo, and quarterback Chris Irvin had his second straight 300-yard passing game for Ventura (3-2, 2-0).
