The VC football team gave up 19 unanswered points in the first half, and were unable to comeback in a 48-24 loss at Saddleback College on Saturday. VC's Terrell Vaughn, who had 109 receiving yards on the night, hauled in a 33-yard score from Dino Maldonado to bring the state No. 1-ranked Pirates to within 8-7 late in the first quarter before the Gauchos, ranked as high as No. 4 in the state, went on the run from which the Pirates could not recover. Maldonado passed for 290 yards and a score in the game and Travis Calloway led the defense with 10 tackles.
After the two heavyweights traded punts, a VC fumble led to the Gaucho's first score of the game. After the successful 2-point conversion, the Pirates trailed 8-0 at the 10:13 mark of the opening period.
The Pirates had an answer, however, as Maldonado led a 73-yard scoring drive in just five plays, culminating in his 33-yard touchdown strike to Vaughn. Alberto Arroyo's kick made it 8-7 with 8:35 on the clock.
Saddleback scored touchdowns on their next two possessions, and a botched snap on a Pirate punt led to a safety, giving the Gaucho's a 24-7 advantage. A field goal early in the second quarter completed the 19-point run from Saddleback as they led 27-7 at the 14:32 mark of the second quarter.
VC came back with a 15-play drive that ended with a successful 46-yard field goal by Arroyo, and the Pirates went into intermission trailing 27-10.
The gauchos put up a pair of unanswered scores in the third period to put the game out of reach.
The Pirates, to their credit, kept up the fight with quarterback Alaka'I Yuen connecting on a pair of fourth quarter scores, three yards to Vaughn and 75 yards to Deshaun Staples.
Yuen finished the game with 99 yards passing with two scores and another 27 yards on the ground. Mark Ferrell had eight catches for 87 yards and Chuck Wick led the ground attack with 48 rushing yards on 17 carries.
Calloway added an interception and two pass break-ups to his tackle total and Brett Moyer recorded seven stops. Jeremiah Nunnery recorded six tackles for the Pirates.
Ventura next will host Allan Hancock College on Saturday Sept. 21. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 pm at the VC Sportsplex.