VC celebrates 100 years with Pirate victory

On a night of festivities at the VC Sportsplex celebrating 100 years of Pirate athletic tradition, the Ventura College football team held off Fullerton 45-42 for a victory in its 2025 home debut. Quarterback Devin Tate passed for three touchdowns and ran for another while Elijah Davis was on the receiving end of two scoring pass and run plays. Koen Glover and Love Adabeyo each ran for over 100 yards and a score. Charlie Neos led the defense with seven tackles and Domata Peko Jr. had a pair of sacks in the triumph.

Ventura (2-0) was dominant in the first quarter, outscoring the Hornets 17-0. Tate connected with Davis for a 28-yard pass and run on the Pirates' initial possession of the game and Bodie Ing connected for a 36-yard field goal following a nine-play, 51 yard drive that took over six minutes of game time.

James Rose intercepted a Fullerton pass on the first play of the ensuing possession, and Davis turned a routine screen pass into a 69-yard scoring strike from Tate two plays later. Ing's kick made it 17-0 for VC with 3:10 remaining in the opening stanza.

Fullerton answered with 21 straight points in the second quarter before Tate engineered a nine-play 56 yard drive late in the first half. Tate's five yard run to paydirt punctuated the drive and Ing was successful on the PAT for a 24-21 Ventura lead at intermission.

The teams traded scores in the second half, beginning with Koen Glover's 65-yard scamper on the second play from scrimmage after intermission. Tate completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Tayvion McCoy midway through the third quarter and Adabeyo's three yard rush to the end zone early in the fourth gave the Pirates a 45-35 lead.

Fullerton scored a touchdown a minute later to pull to within three points, but the Ventura defense held fast the rest of the way.

The Hornets' next possession ended when Neos forced a FC fumble that was recovered by Rose. Peko Jr. came up with a big sack on a second down play deep in the Pirates' end of the field on the next Fullerton drive leading to a missed field goal.  On FC's final drive, Peko Jr. had his second sack on the night to create a fourth-and-long that culminated with an incomplete pass preserving the win.

Tate finished 15-22 in the air for 226 yards and three touchdowns and he carried the ball 15 times for 69 yards and another score. lover led the rushing corps with 110 yards on 17 carries, including a trip to the end zone, while Adabeyo gained 101 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown. Davis had four catches for 113 yards and two scores and Ryan Gillum recorded five receptions for 49 yards.

Ventura remains at home on Saturday Sept. 13 to battle Bakersfield. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm.