VC Football Falls at Bakersfield

It turned out to be one of those nights for the Pirates. Despite 224 passing yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Daniel Duran and 110 rushing yards from running back Quran Gossett, the VC football team could not contain Bakersfield on the road in their 45-27 setback against the Renegades. BC outscored Ventura 24-3 after a Pirate touchdown early in the third quarter, sending VC to its first conference loss of the year.

Ventura (6-2, 4-1) got off on the wrong foot on their initial drive of the day.  After holding BC to a three-and-out for a punt, the Pirates took the ball on their own 48-yard line. A fumble on the first play from scrimmage was recovered by the Renegades, who then marched down the field for the first score of the game.

Trailing 7-0, Ventura had an answer as they drove 75 yards in 11 plays with Duran completing a four-yard scoring strike to Jayon Farrar. Ryan Pimentel's kick evened the count on the scoreboard with 6:18 left in the first quarter.

Late in the first, VC's Eric Rivera blocked a Renegade punt, setting up the Pirates at the BC-42. Six plays later Duran hit Gossett for a 10-yard scoring strike, and Pimentel's kick gave Ventura the touchdown lead early in the second.

The good fortune was short-lived for VC, however, as Bakersfield returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to the house to tie the score at 14. BC added another touchdown, and Pimentel connected on a 40-yard field goal and the Pirates trailed 21-17 at halftime.

The tide seemed to be turning in the Pirates' favor again after halftime. Kendric Smith had a 23-yard kickoff return, and two plays later, Duran hit Farrar for a 61-yard pass and run to paydirt. Pimentel punctuated the score with his third PAT for a 24-21 VC lead less than a minute into the third stanza.

Bakersfield took over from that point, scoring a touchdown and a field goal to re-take the lead, 31-24, six minutes later. A touchdown early in the fourth quarter put the Renegades firmly in control, 38-24.

Pimentel connected for a 29-yard field goal with 8:44 left to play, but another BC touchdown sealed the 45-27 defeat.

Duran completed passes to seven different receivers, and Farrar led the way with seven catches for 91 yards and a score. Gossett had four receptions for 49 yards, giving him 159 total yards on the evening. Spencer McKelligon led the defensive effort with seven solo tackles.

Ventura, now tied for second place in the Northern Conference, next travels to first-place El Camino on Saturday Nov. 9. Kickoff in Torrance is scheduled for 6:00 pm.