Pirate Comeback Falls Short at Long Beach

Despite two lightening delays and a 23-0 deficit 20 minutes into the game, the Pirate football team had a chance in the end Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach. But as the rains returned at the end of the fourth quarter, VC's seven-game Northern Conference win streak washed away in their 33-26 setback against the Vikings. Tim Grear racked up 120 receiving yards and a touchdown, and Jesse Valenzuela totaled 126 yards overall with another score to lead Ventura (4-2, 0-1).

The night got off to an auspicious beginning as kickoff was delayed 30 minutes due to lightening in the Long Beach area. The delay seemed to throw the Pirates off their game as they were unable to get anything untracked early. After a three-an-out on the first possession, VC gave the Vikings a short field, yielding a touchdown less than four minutes into the game. 

Ventura pinned LBCC deep following their next punt only to see the Vikings score on a 91-yard touchdown run up the middle to go ahead 14-0 with 6:12 remaining in the first quarter.

Early in the second period, Long Beach capitalized on another short field, driving 34 yards in six plays for another score, but the PAT failed for the 20-0 Viking advantage.

On LBCC's next possession, they drove to the Pirate 11-yard line before the VC defense made a stop of third-and-four, forcing a Viking field goal. Ventura trailed 23-0 with 9:15 remaining.

Then, as it seems to do of ten for the Pirates, the tide turned.  Quarterback Ezekiel Savage II led a 9-play, 70-yard drive as Ventura finally got on the board. A 22-yard pass from Savage II to Grear set up a a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line into the end zone with 5:19 on the clock. Rafael Vargas' kick was good and the Pirates trailed 23-7.

On the Vikings' next possession, the Pirate defense held them to a three-and-out setting up a fourth-and-14 at the LBCC 33-yard line. A long snap on the punt attempt rolled into the end zone with Long Beach recovering for a VC safety and two points for the Pirates.

On the ensuing free kick, Valenzuela gathered the squib kick at the 28-yard line and raced 72 yards through the Viking coverage to paydirt. Vargas converted the PAT and just like that, Ventura closed to within 23-16.

As the end of the first half loomed, Ventura took over on their next possession at their own 28 with 1:29 on the clock. After a pair of quarterback keepers, Savage II unloaded on a 55-yard bomb to Grear, landing the Pirates at the LBCC six. two plays later Savage II found Grear in the right flat for another VC touchdown. Vargas' kick was good and the Pirates tied the game at halftime, 23-23.

Another lightening delay extended halftime by an extra half hour, and when the teams returned to play, the Pirates had lost their momentum. 

Long Beach took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and marched 74 yards down the field in nine plays. They Pirates caught a break with an interception in the end zone, but it was called back due to penalty, with the Vikings scoring a touchdown one play later.

On the ensuing kickoff, James Miles returned the ball 30 yards to the LBCC 42, but Ventura was unable to cash in on the shortened field. 

Pirate linebacker Adrian Soracco forced a fumble on the next Viking drive, recovered by VC's Gabriel Collins, but the Pirates once again could not take advantage of the takeaway.

Long Beach scored a field goal with 11:04 remaining, making it a two possession game, making life difficult for VC.

The Pirates responded, however. Lamonte James returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards to the Vikings' 34-yard line, and Vargas closed the possession with a 40-yard field goal to bring Ventura to within 33-26.

The Ventura defense forced a Long Beach punt on the next possession, giving the Pirates a chance with 2:18 remaining on the clock. But it was not to be, however, as an intercepted VC pass ended the hope of another comeback for the Pirates.

Long Beach won in the trenches, outgaining VC 483-241 yards. The Vikings ran for 270 yards while passing for another 213. Meanwhile, the Pirate ground game was limited to 65 yards and the air attack gained 176 yards.

CJ Hodgdon, Soracco and Jett Alldredge led the Pirate defense with nine tackles each. 

Ventura continues Northern Conference play on Saturday Oct. 22 on the road at Bakersfield College.