Momentum Swing Sinks Pirates in SCFA Semi's

The Pirates were riding a wave of momentum. They had scored 17 unanswered points to start the second half, including a 70-yard pick-six by Charlie Neos, to take a 31-21 lead at No. 1-ranked Golden West early in the fourth quarter. But a huge touchdown return on the ensuing kick swung the momentum back to the Rustlers and they rode it to a 56-38 decision over No. 4 VC in the SCFA semifinals Saturday afternoon in Huntington Beach.

Ventura wide receiver Tayvion McCoy had a huge afternoon with seven catches for 112 yards and three touchdowns and Silas Kemp pulled in six receptions for 86 yards, but the Pirates could not hold on against the state's top-ranked team.

After trailing 21-14 at halftime, Bohdie Ing connected for a 28-yard field goal and McCoy found paydirt on a 14-yard pass play from quarterback Braesen Leon for a 24-21 Pirate lead with 1:29 remaining in the third quarter. On the ensuing drive,Neos picked off a Golden West pass at the Pirate 30-yard line and scampered down the field 70 yards to the end zone for a 31-21 VC margin with 12:53 left in the game.

The Rustlers immediately answered, however, with a 95-yard return for a score on the ensuing kickoff to take the winds out of the Pirates' sails.

A quick 3-and-out by VC led to another GWC score for a 35-31 count as the Rustlers totaled 35 points over an eight-minute span in the final period. McCoy took a pass from Leon late and stretched out to cross the goal line with 3:07 remaining for his final score setting the final margin.

The Pirates took the opening kickoff and drove 73 yards in nine plays to break the ice. Leon completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Zavala for the game's first score.

Golden West scored a touchdown late in the first quarter to even the count.

The Pirates took advantage of a missed Rustler field goal attempt and drove 80 yards in eight plays for another score. McCoy found paydirt on a 12-yard pass from Leon and Ing's kick put Ventura ahead 14-7 early in the second stanza.

GWC answered on the next drive and scored again before halftime for a 21-14 lead at intermission.

Leon passed for 393 yards and four scores on the day, but was picked off three times after throwing just two interceptions all season. Although Ventura outgained Golden West 396-391, the Pirate rushing attack was limited to three net yards while GWC gained 118 yards on the ground. The Rustlers also won the time of possession battle, holding the ball for four-plus more minutes than the Pirates in the game.

Brian Estrada and Keiveon Moore led the defensive effort for VC with eight and seven tackles, respectively. Eric Rivera totaled five stops.

The Pirates end the season with a 10-2 overall record. They went 6-1 in the National Northern Conference of the SCFA, claiming a share of the conference crown for the fifth time in the past six seasons and the 10th time in the 15-year tenure of head coach Steve Mooshagian. Ventura also claimed its first-ever home playoff win a week ago and qualified for the SCFA playoffs for the ninth time since 2012.