If only the game ended after the first quarter. The No. 3-ranked Pirates got off to a fast start but could not maintain the momentum as they tasted defeat for the first time this season to state No. 2 Riverside 52-27 Saturday night at the Sportsplex. The Ventura offense, which came into the game as the SoCal's No. 2-ranked unit, was limited to two second half touchdowns, the final one well after the the game had been decided, in the loss.
VC (3-1) got off to a fast start on a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Vosean Crumbie. Cooper Garcia's PAT made the score 7-0 for the Pirates before the seats were warm.
Riverside answered with an 8-play 42 yard drive culminating in a field goal to make the score 7-3.
The teams traded possessions for the remainder of the quarter until linebacker Mark Zavala picked up a Tiger fumble and ran it back 14 yards to the end zone with 1:02 remaining in the period. Garcia's kick gave the Pirates a 14-3 advantage.
The Tigers began to take over on the ensuing kickoff with a big return, and on the first play of the second quarter they found the endzone for the first time of the game to close the gap to 14-10. RCC then took advantage of an interception midway through the period to set up their next touchdown with 8:35 on the clock, and after a three-and-out by VC, used a 59 yard pass play to score their third touchdown of the period three minutes later. Riverside took a 24-14 lead into the locker room.
The Pirate defense held Riverside to a three-and-out to begin the second half, and the Pirate offense responded. It took them just three plays to cover 79 yards after the RCC punt as quarterback Jake Luton hit Elijah Alexander down the right sideline for a 57 yard scoring strike. The PAT failed, and VC trailed 24-20 with 12:43 left in the third quarter.
Riverside took over at that point, scoring 28 unanswered points, including two touchdowns off of Ventura fumbles. The Pirates did manage a final score, a 2 yard touchdown pass from back up quarterback Conor Regan to tight end Logan Javernick to set the final margin at 52-27.
Luton was limited to 187 yards passing, completing 15 of 40 attempts with one touchdown and one interception. Noah Siegrist led the VC ground attack with two carries for 41 yards. Nine different Pirates recorded a pass reception with none accumulating more that 35 yards except for Alexander's one catch for 57 yards and a score.
Kendrick Bradley led the VC defense with nine tackles while Zavala and Devonte Smith each had eight. Darrian McIntyre and Charles Franklin each had seven stops.
The non-conference gauntlet continues for Ventura on Saturday Oct. 1 as the Pirates travel to state No. 1-ranked Saddleback. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm in Mission Viejo and the game can be seen live on the VC Sports Network.