Pirate Football Sweeps Top SCFA Northern Awards

Pirate Football Sweeps Top SCFA Northern Awards

The Ventura College football team swept the top post-season awards in the Northern Conference of the Southern California Football Association for the 2021 season. In voting by the conference coaches, quarterback Jordan Pachot was named the Offensive Player of the Year, cornerback Donyai Dixon earned the Defensive Player of the Year honor, and head coach Steve Mooshagian was named the conference Coach of the Year. VC won the Northern Conference for the seventh time since 2012, producing its second ever undefeated regular season.

Pachot, a product of San Gorgonio High School in San Bernardino, led the conference in passing yards, completions, completion percentage and touchdown passes in 2021. He was 186-274 on the year, a completion percentage of 67.9, for 2,217 yards and 18 touchdowns. His 8.1 yards per attempt average was second in the SCFA Northern Conference.

Dixon, meanwhile, anchored a Pirate defense that was one of the best in the history of the VC football program. From his cornerback position, he grabbed a league-high six interceptions on the year, twice as many as the No. 2 spot which included teammate Travis Calloway. The Baltimore, MD native returned three interceptions for touchdowns. Dixon also totaled 45 tackles on the season and had eight pass break-ups, which tied for third in the conference.

Mooshagian claimed his sixth SCFA Northern Conference Coach of the Year Award. The Pirates' 10-0 regular season mark was just the second undefeated docket in school history, repeating the feat of Mooshagian's Pirates from 2012. In his 11-season, 12-year tenure directing VC's football program, he has a school-record 88 wins, seven conference titles, and 10 straight SCFA Playoff or bowl appearances.

Ventura was also well-represented on the SCFA's All-Northern Conference first and second teams.  Joining Pachot on the first-team offense were two more unanimous selections, wide receiver Terrell Vaughn (Oxnard, CA / Westlake) and kicker Alberto Arroyo (Carpinteria, CA / Carpinteria). Additional first-team offensive honorees were center Matthew Duarte (Ventura, CA / Buena), running back Julian Kelly (Ayson, PA / Sun Valley), and offensive lineman Reese Silofau (Long Beach, CA / Oaks Christian).

In addition to Dixon, VC had one unanimous selection to the first-team All-Northern Conference Defense, outside linebacker/defensive back Daquan Benjamin (Baltimore, MD / Reginald F. Lewis). Safety Travis Calloway (Gilbert, AZ / Perry) was also selected to the first team defense. Vaughn was a double-first-team honoree, earning distinction as a punt returner as well.

Offensive lineman Caleb Barajas (Ventura, CA / Ventura) was named to the second team offensive unit.

Six Pirates earned second-team All-Northern Conference accolades on the defensive side of the ball. They included kick returner Chris Atkins (Compton, CA / Downey), defensive end Joe Hernandez (Oxnard, CA / Rio Mesa), inside linebacker Ralph Navarro (Oxnard, CA / Channel Islands), defensive tackle Jonah Rubadue (Parker, CO / Chapparal), outside linebacker Adrian Soracco (Santa Barbara, CA / Bishop Diego), and cornerback Cam Williams (New Iberia, LA / New Iberia).

See Full List, 2021 SCFA All-Northern Conference