Pirate QB Shuffle Produces Another Victory

The quarterback shuffle continued for the Ventura College football team Saturday producing another victory in their final non-conference tilt. Ezekiel Savage II came in for the injured Nathaniel Frederick late in the first half and completed a 2-point conversion and a 58-yard touchdown pass on his first two throws to boost VC to a 42-37 win over Saddleback at the Sportsplex. Jesse Valenzuela had 269 combined yards, including 120 yards rushing with a score while CJ Hodgdon recorded 14 tackles defensively as the No. 10/9-ranked Pirates moved to 4-1 on the season.

After receiving the opening kickoff, Valenzuela set the Pirates up with great field position with a 42-yard return. Ventura, behind Frederick, the marched down the field 52 yards in nine plays, punctuating the drive with a 2-yard shuffle pass to Dawson Adams-Grenier, who found the end zone for a touchdown. Rafael Vargas' kick was good for an early 7-0 VC lead.

The Bobcats, however, provided a quick answer, with their own solid kick return and a 49-yard drive to the goal line. They successfully ran the swinging gate play on the extra point for two and an 8-7 lead with 7:59 remaining in the opening period.

Both teams missed scoring opportunities on their next possessions with Ventura driving to the Bobcat 11 before an interception ended their chance, and Saddleback missing a 31-yard field goal attempt.

Late in the first half, Saddleback found paydirt on a 39-yard run to take a 15-7 advantage.

After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, Savage came in as signal caller for the injured Frederick. With the possession beginning with 1:L44 remaining in the second quarter, Savage handed the ball off to Valenzuela, who raced around right end and split a pair of would-be tacklers, sprinting 75 yards to paydirt. Savage 's first pass of the day came on the two-point try, a completion to Kevin Tate who crossed the goal line for the 15-15 tie with 1:32 on the clock.

Saddleback began the ensuing drive at their own 17-yard line, They were due the second half kickoff, but decided to work to regain momentum with a late first half score. The strategy backfired, however, when the VC defense came up big and forced a three-and-out. 

After the Bobcat punt, the Pirates took over on their own 42 with 33 seconds still remaining in the quarter. On first down, Savage threw a beautiful ball to Chris Reaves, who made a perfect adjustment on his route, resulting in a 58-yard pass, catch and run to the end zone for the second VC score in the final two minutes of the half. Ventura took a 21-15 lead into intermission.

Saddleback took the second half kickoff and promptly began driving for a score. On a 40-yard Bobcat run, Hodgdon made a touchdown-saving stop, however, and on the next play, Adrian Soracco forced a fumble. Saddleback recovered the ball, but lost 16 yards on the play, however, and they settled for a field goal to close the gap to 21-18.

Ventura had an answer on the next drive. Savage led the Pirates 70 yards down the field, culminating the drive with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Tate on a 4th-and-7 play. Vargas converted the PAT for a 28-28 margin for Ventura with 8:02 on the clock.

Not to be outdone, Ventura's defense soon got into the act. Two plays into Saddleback's next possession, Quentin Harris stepped in front of a Bobcat receiver, intercepting a pass and returning it to the house for another Pirate score. Vargas' kick made it 35-18 with 7:38 remaining in the third stanza.

Early in the fourth quarter, Valenzuela had a 68-yard punt return to the Bobcat 16. Two plays later Savage hit Tim Grear who made a spectacular shoestring catch and extended over a Saddleback defender to cross the goal line and another Pirate touchdown. After Vargas' extra point, VC led 42-18 with 11:36 remaining in the game.

After the next Bobcat possession, a bobbled punt gave Saddleback the ball on a short field. They proceeded to score the first of three fourth-quarter touchdowns, but Ventura held on for the 42-37 victory.

Savage was 4-9 passing for 112 yards and three touchdowns. Reaves led the Pirate receivers with four catches for 67 yards and a score. Valenzuela totaled 145 return yards in the contest.

Soracco had another solid game defensively with 10 stops, a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble. Fakhir Stewart totaled eight tackles while Harris, James Tuayemie and Jonah Rubadue each had seven.

Ventura has a bye next week before beginning Northern Conference action on Saturday Oct. 15 at Long Beach.