The Pirates faced the classic trap game Saturday, hosting Antelope Valley a week after an emotional rivalry win over Moorpark. The game was not pretty, but the VC football team rallied late to defeat the Marauders 42-28. Daniel Duran passed for 20 yards and four touchdowns, two to Tyler Woodworth, and Quran Gossett rushed for 153 yards and a score to lead Ventura (6-1, 4-0) to the victory. Ty Ely and Spencer McKelligon lead the defensive effort with five tackles apiece.
In an uninspired first quarter, the Pirates failed to score against the winless Marauders. VC finally got on the board with 10:22 remaining in the second when Duran hit Woodworth for a 12-yard scoring strikeon a drive set up by a Zane Carter interception. Ryan Pimentel's kick extended the score to 7-0 for the Pirates.
Ventura continued to struggle offensively as they twice moved deep into AVC territory only to stall out. Pimentel connected on field goals of 21 and 22 yards, respectively, to give the Pirates a 13-0 lead at halftime.
The game became more interesting in the third quarter as the Marauders took the second half kickoff and took just four plays to cover 74 yards for a touchdown, pulling to winthin 13-7.
The Pirates responded in kind, as Duran hit Woodworth for a 34-yard pass to paydirt on the next ensuing possession. Pimentel added the PAT to reestablish the 13-point advantage, 20-7.
AVC scored late in the third quarter on a big run, again closing to within six points, 20-14 with 4:28 on the clock.
Under some pressure, Ventura again had an answer, buoyed by a 51 yard kick return by Kendric Smith. From the 3-yard line, Duran connected with Jayon Farrar for a score and Pimentel's kick put VC ahead 27-24 heading to the final stanza.
The Marauders made a final push for the upset, visiting the end zone twice in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to take a 28-27 lead with 9:59 left to play.
Farrar took the ensuing kickoff back 33 yards to set up the Pirates next drive near midfield. VC's drive stalled at the AVC 21, and Pimentel connected for a 39 yard field goal on fourth-and-two, but a Marauder penalty gave the drive new life. Duran responded by hitting Tanner Crandall from seven yards out for a score to put Ventura back on top. Duran then hit Farrar on a tipped ball for the two-point conversion and the Pirates led 35-28 with 6:41 on the clock.
The VC defense stepped up on the next possession, forcing a short punt after the Marauders were backed up, and the Pirates gpt the ball at the AVC 32-yard line.
Gossett did all the work by himself over the next three plays, reaching the end zone on an 18-yard run around the left side to put the game away. Pimentel's kick settled the final count at 42-28.
Duran completed 20 of 37 passes on the night for his 209 yards with four scores. Mewnahile, Gossett was a workhorse with 27 carries resulting in 153 yards. Duran spread the ball out to eight different receivers with Woodworth posting three catches for 53 yards and two trips to paydirt. Farrar had five catches for 47 yards and one touchdown. Silas Kemp and Gossett each had four catches for 37 yards. Smith averaged 39.0 yards on four kickoff returns for the Pirates.