Having already clinched a share of the Northern Conference title and secured a Southern California Football Association playoff berth, the Ventura College football team had a trap game at College of the Canyons Saturday. The Pirates fell into the trap, falling in a 21-19 decision to the Cougars, who were playing to secure a post-season bowl berth. VC's dynamic running back duo of Jaylen Thompson and Lamonte James combined for 240 yards rushing and all three touchdowns in the setback.
The Pirates (7-3, 6-1) took advantage of a missed Canyons field goal in the first quarter, taking their first possession of the game 80 yards in 10 plays for the first score of the game. James, who surpassed 1,000 yards on the season, ran the ball 19 yards to paydirt to punctuate the drive with Ryan Pimentel tacking on the PAT for a 7-0 VC lead 10 minutes into the game.
CoC returned the favor, however, driving for a touchdown on the ensuing possession and the teams were tied 7-7 at the quarter break.
The teams alternated punts before the Cougars were able to score another touchdown with 1:51 remaining in the first half, taking a 14-7 lead to intermission.
Canyons took a two-touchdown lead on their first possession of the third quarter, driving 67 yards in six plays to increase their margin to 21-7.
Late in the third, James ran for 51 yards on seven carries on a 66-yard VC drive for a touchdown. james' 4-yard scamper complete the possession, but the PAT kick failed, leaving the Pirates down 21-13 headed to the final period.
Ventura's defense held fast on the following possession, giving the ball back to the offense after a Cougar punt. This time it was Thompson's turn to dominate the drive, running for 64 yards on six rushes, including a 25-yard touchdown run. On the 2-point conversion, quarterback Chris Irvin's pass appeared to be completed to Eli Aragon in the end zone, but a Canyons defender simultaneously grabbed the pass leading to the officials' controversial determination that the pass was intercepted.
Trailing by two points, the Pirates had two possessions to get onto field goal range, but they could not overcome the small deficit before time ran out.
Thompson ended the game with 130 rushing yards on 17 carries and a score while James ran the ball 16 times for 110 yards and two trips to the end zone. Irvin finished the game completing 16 of 22 passes for 95 yards and Teandre Newcomb had five receptions for 21 yards.
Spencer McKelligon led the defense with 10 tackles, six solo, while Isaiah Garcia and Zane Carter had nine and seven stops, respectively.
Despite the loss, VC claims a share of the program's fourth straight Northern Conference crown, the ninth in the 12-year tenure of head coach Steve Mooshagian. Ventura will also make its third straight appearance, eighth overall, in the SCFA Final Four, likely playing at Fullerton or Mt. San Antonio on Saturday Nov. 25.