Late Score Ends Pirates' bid for perfection. Playoffs up next.

The Pirate football team held a 20-point lead in the third quarter Saturday against Mt. San Antonio, but the Mounties came storming back to defeat VC 55-54 on a score with 16 seconds remaining. The setback ends state No. 2-ranked VC's pursuit of an undefeated regular season and ties them with Mt. SAC for the Northern Conference championship. Ventura next awaits its assignment in the upcoming Southern California Football Association playoffs.

Braesen Leon led the offensive effort for Ventura with 387 yards passing and three touchdowns while running for another score. Tayvion McCoy led the receiving corps with six catches for 146 yards and two trips to paydirt. Love Adabeyo rushed for 82 yards on the night while Javarien Salter ran for 40 yards and two scores. Koen Glover carried the ball for 47 yards with one trip to the end zone on the night. Charlie Neos and Nick Duffy each totaled seven tackles to lead the defense for Ventura (9-1, 6-1).

Ventura outscored the state No. 4-ranked Mounties 10-0 in the first quarter on a 20-yard run by Salter and a 31-yard field goal by Bodie Ing.

Mt. SAC responded on the first play of the second period, however, with a touchdown to cut the VC lead to 10-7. 

The Pirates turned a fumble recovery by Masen Coso into quick touchdown, a 1-yard run by Leon, set up by a 41-yard scamper by Adabeyo. Ing's kick was successful for a 17-7 VC lead with 11:52 remaining until halftime.

VC answered another Mountie score with a 2-play, 51 yard possession that included a 54-yard pass and run from Leon to McCoy and a 2-yard dive to the end zone by Salter.

Ventura's defense forced punts on he next two Mt. SAC offensive possessions that were turned into back-to back touchdowns by the offense. Leon completed a 31-yard scoring strike to Elijah Davis and Koen Glover ran for a 1-yard score. However, a missed extra point on the first score limited to VC advantage to 37-14 with 27 seconds remaining before halftime.

Mt. SAC took advantage of every second remaining, driving for a field goal before the clock expired. Ventura led 37-17 at intermission.

The Pirates answered a Mt. SAC score with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Leon to McCoy, and Ing hit a 36-yard field goal after another Mountie touchdown to make it 47-31 for Ventura after the third quarter of play.

Mt. San antonio scored a pair of quick touchdowns early in the final stanza, converting 2-point PAT's on both, to tie the game at 47 with 10:05 left to play.

VC then drove the ball 75-yards down the field in nine plays, taking up nearly four minutes of game time, before McCoy's 24-yard pass reception and run ended in the end zone to give the lead back to the PIrates. Ing's extra point put the Pirates ahead 54-47 with 6:11 remaining.

Unfortunately, Mt. SAC was able to answer the call, driving 61 yards in 16 plays, scoring a touchdown with just 16 seconds remaining. Their 2-point conversion was good to give the Mounties the slim 55-54 edge.

 The Pirates managed to get to the Mt. SAC 47-yard line before a desperation hail mary fell to the ground, cementing the result.

While the loss is disappointing for the Pirates, they still have more football to look forward to. VC still shares the Northern Conference crown, the program's fifth in the past six seasons and the 10th conference title in the 15-year tenure of head coach Steve Mooshagian. They will also be receiving a bid to the SCFA Playoffs and will likely host a first round game on Saturday Nov. 22.