Ventura outlasts Bakersfield, moves to 3-0

The VC football team outlasted Bakersfield 45-38 Saturday night at the Sportsplex. The Pirates survived a pair of 7-point deficits and a pair of turnovers in the first half to defeat the previously undefeated Renegades. Devin Tate passed for 194 yards and a touchdown while rushing for three more scores and Javarien Salter had 16 carries for 137 yards and a score to lead the way. Keiveon Moore, Dre Nelson and Jaxon Arrington all had six tackles to lead the defense and Charlie Neos picked off a pair of BC passes.

A Pirate fumble on the third play of the game led to a quick Bakersfield touchdown and a 7-0 deficit. 

Ventura, ranked No. 7 in the latest JC Athletic Bureau rankings, responded quickly, however, beginning with a 56-yard kickoff return from Kendric Smith, the Pirates took just 1:49 to find paydirt on a 3-yard run by Tate.

Domata Peko Jr. recovered a Renegade fumble on the next possession, giving VC a short field once again. The result was another Pirate touchdown, a 24-yard scoring strike from Tate to Elijah Davis, for a 14-7 margin.

No. 11-ranked Bakersfield returned the favor with 14 straight points ad they held a 21-14 advantage at the end of an exciting first quarter.

Salter scored from seven yards out early in the second stanza, and a Neos interception led to a 1-yard quarterback sneak into the end zone by Tate as the Pirates reclaimed the lead.

The Renegades kept the shootout going with an 8-play, 75-yard drive for a score and a 28-28 tie.

On the next VC possession, Salter put together runs of 22 and 41 yards, respectively, and Tate ran the final 29 yards to the end zone for a quick, 3-play drive. Bodie Ing connected for his fifth PAT of the half and the Pirates led 35-28 at halftime.

Peko Jr. recorded his second fumble recovery of the day on BC's first possession of the second half, and Neos grabbed his second pick of the game on the next Renegade drive, but the Pirates were not able to use either turnover to add to the scoreboard. Ing's 32-yard field goal with 5:19 on the clock was the only score by either team in the third quarter.

BC kept the game close with a field goal early in the final stanza, but an 8-play, 75 yard drive over 4:49 of clock time toward the end of the game sealed the game for the Pirates. Koen Glover punctuated the drive with a 2-yard dive to paydirt and Ashley McMichael added the PAT to put the game out of reach with 1:09 remaining.

Glover ended the night with 84 yards rushing as the Pirates racked up 263 total yards on the ground as a team. Ryan Gillum caught four passes for 59 yards on the night and Davis totaled a pair of receptions for 51 yards and a score. Smith totaled 86 yards on three kickoff returns for a 28.7-yard average.

Ventura (3-0) will begin Northern Conference play on Saturday Sept. 20 with the 57th edition Citrus Cup rivalry game at Moorpark. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm.