In a spirited contest that was more competitive than in recent years, the Pirate football team retained the Citrus Cup for the 15th straight season with a 52-35 win over Moorpark at Griffin Stadium Thursday night. VC scored 14 points in the first five minutes of the game and never trailed in their 34th win in the 55-game history of the Ventura County rivalry. Lamonte James and Jaylen Thompson each racked up over 100 yards rushing and Chris Irvin passed for 285 yards to lead Ventura (4-2, 3-0).
With emotions running high, the Pirates struck first. VC was backed up to their own 8-yard line following the opening kickoff and faced a 3rd-and-5 when Irvin connected with Teandre Newcomb on a 68-yard bomb to open up the field. Five plays later Irvin connected with Drew Lopez for a 7-yard touchdown pass to break the ice less than three minutes into the game. Ryan Pimentel's extra point was good and VC led 7-0.
Two minutes later the VC defense got into the act. As Moorpark marched into Pirate territory, Alijah Hamilton leveled a big hit on a Raiders' wide receiver, causing a fumble that was scooped out of the air by Jaylan Wesley, who returned it 60 yards to the end zone for another Pirate touchdown. Pimentel again added the PAT for an early 14-0 Ventura margin.
The game settled in following the pick and the teams traded punts before MC drove 87 yards in 11 plays. The Pirate defense came up big in the red zone, however, stopping the Moorpark advance and the Raiders settled for a 20-yard field goal.
Ventura had an answer on the following possession that ended early in the second quarter. Irvin's 34-yard pass to Tyler Woodworth on the first play of the drive started a 77-yard march in six plays to paydirt. Eli Aragon found the end zone on a 4-yard pass from Irvin, and Pimental's kick moved the score to 21-3 with 14:26 remaining until halftime.
Moorpark then proceeded to sandwich a pair of touchdowns around a 35-yard field goal by Pimentel and VC went into intermission leading by a touchdown, 24-17.
The Raiders received the second-half kick and again marched down the field, 46 yards in eight plays, but the VC defense came up with another big stop, forcing a field goal.
With Moorpark closing in, the Pirates stepped up on their first play from scrimmage in the period as Thompson ran 65 yards off right tackle for a touchdown. Pimentel, who was a perfect 7-7 in extra points, again added the kick for the 31-20. margin.
While the Pirates scored a touchdown, Ventura's defense continued to bend but nt break, forcing another kick on the next Raider possession.
VC again answered with seven, marching on an 8-play, 77-yard drive. Irvin and Cody Hoffman hooked up for a 30-yard completion to open the possession, and James handled most of the rest with 23 rushing yards over five straight carries setting up Irvin's 10-yard scoring strike to Hoffman. Ventura led 38-23 with 4:00 left in the third.
After a pair of punts, Moorpark was again on the move, driving to the VC 24-yard line before the Pirates stopped the Raiders on a 4th-and-5 play.
On the ensuing drive, James got the ball moving with a 33-yard run, followed by a 42-yard pass to Lopez to the MC 3-yard line. James finished off the quick possession with a run to paydirt to extend Ventura's lead to a seemingly-comfortable 45-23 with 14:19 left to play.
Moorpark scored a pair of touchdowns within a three-minute span, however, each with failed 2-point PAT attempts, and suddenly the Raiders were within 45-35 with 9:06 remaining.
With MC still trailing by two scores, their onside kick attempt failed to travel 10 yards before going out of bounds, giving Ventura the ball at the Raider 39. James all-but sealed the win on the next play, rushing 39 yards off the right side once again, extending the Pirate advantage to 53-35.
Moorpark missed a 35-yard field goal attempt on the next drive before VC ran out the clock, holding the ball for the final 6:42 of play to close out the win.
James led this week's tag-team running attack for the Pirates with 137 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Thompson also carried the ball 14 times for 131 yards and a score. As a team, VC racked up 320 yards rushing to 14 for Moorpark.
Irvin was 22-31 through the air for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Hoffman, Lopez and Aragon each recorded four catches and a score as Irvin completed passes to nine different receivers.
Zane Carter led the Pirate defense with eight tackles, four solo while Wesley and Spencer McKelligon each totaled six stops. Khail Reed and Jaylen Blizzard each had five.
Ventura, who sits atop the Northern Conference along with College of the Canyons, next travels to Antelope Valley on Saturday Oct. 21. Kickoff in Lancaster is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
The Pirates celebrate their 15th straight Citrus Cup win outside the dressing rooms at Moorpark's Griffin Stadium Thursday.