The Pirate football team, ranked No. 6 in the state, pushed No. 4 Mt. San Antonio for all 60 minutes before falling in a 22-14 road decision against the Mounties. Pirate quarterback Daniel Duran passed for 316 yards and a touchdown, completing passes to nine different receivers. and he ran for another score in the Top-10 heavyweight match-up. Shahid Wilson led the defense for Ventura (1-1) with 10 tackles, eight solo, including two stops for a loss in the game.
After forcing a three-and-out on the Mounties' first possession, the Pirates moved the ball 43 yards in 10 plays to the Mt. SAC 31-yard line before the drive stalled out on an unsuccessful 4th-and-2 play by Ventura.
The teams then traded punts until VC scored a touchdown on a 35 yard pass play from Duran to Silas Kemp. Ryan Pimentel's kick made it 7-0 for the Pirates with 1:28 remaining in the opening period.
Duran to Kemp from the Ventura replay center pic.twitter.com/Iv2QPELUry
— VCPirateAthletics (@VCAthletics) September 15, 2024
Mt. SAC scored a field goal on the next possession to pull to within 7-3 early in the second quarter.
Both teams missed field goals later in the stanza and it remained a 7-3 contest at halftime.
The Mounties scored a touchdown and three field goals on their first four possessions of the second half while the Pirates could not get on the board, making it 19-7 with 6:26 remaining in the game.
Duran and the Pirates stayed in the game with a 10-play, 83-yard drive, including pass completions to Caleb Alvary, Quran Gossett and Jayon Farrar. Duran punctuated the drive with a 1-yard run on fourth down to give VC a chance. Pimentel's kick made it 19-14 with 3:08 remaining.
A 49-yard kick return set Mt. SAC up for another field goal after the Ventura defense held fast and did not give up a first down on the possession.
Unfortunately, VC was unable to sustain a final drive setting the final 22-14 margin.
Kemp led the Pirates' receiving corps with six catches for 78 yards and a score and Farrar recorded four catches for 60 yards. Jake Murphy ran the ball eight times for 57 yards in the game.
Zane Carter was credited with eight tackles, five solo, while Brayden Beck had six stops defensively.
Ventura's difficult non-conference schedule concludes on Saturday Sept. 21 at No. 17 Cerritos with a 6:00 pm kickoff.