Fresh off of rising above a six-way tie atop the Northern Conference entering the final week of the regular season to its third straight conference title, the Pirate football team is headed back to the Southern California Football Association playoffs. Ventura (7-3) has earned the No. 4-seed in the region and will travel to take on No. 1 Riverside (10-0) on Saturday Nov. 26 at San Bernardino Valley College with a 2:00 pm kickoff.
This is the Pirates' fifth trip to the SCFA playoffs in the past six seasons, and the eighth under head coach Steve Mooshagian since 2012. VC also advanced to the Southern California title game in 1999 under current associate head coach Terry Morris.
The tables are turned for the Pirates and Tigers, who met in the SCFA playoffs a year ago. RCC, then the no. 4-seed, came and knocked off the undefeated Pirates on their way to a state runner-up finish.
The teams also met in the post-season in 2018. The No. 4-seeded Pirates defeated No. 1 Canyons in the semifinals, then traveled top No. 2 Riverside and handed the Tigers their first defeat of the year. VC advanced to the state title game where their comeback fell just short against Laney.
The series includes two more playoff games in the recent past as the teams met in the 2017 and 2014 SCFA playoffs. The programs first met in the post-season in 1935.
Riverside has been at the top of the state polls for much of the season and finished the year as the unanimous No. 1 in both the JC Athletic Bureau Coaches Poll and in the CCCSIA Poll. Ventura, meanwhile, began the season as the state's No. 3-ranked team in both polls but fell to 10th by season's end.
The Pirates and Tigers did not meet this season, but do have some common opponents from the regular season. Ventura defeated Saddleback 42-37 on Oct. 1 and RCC beat the Bobcats 34-3 on Sept. 17. The Pirates posted a 32-13 win over El Camino on Sept. 17 while Riverside bested the Warriors 45-10 on Oct. 29. Ventura got the best of Canyons 23-13 on Nov. 5 and the Tigers defeated CoC 31-28 on Oct. 1. Finally, Riverside defeated Long Beach 48-20 on Sept. 10 while the Pirates dropped a 33-26 decision in the rain at LBCC on Oct. 15.
All fans attending the game are advised to purchase tickets in advance at https://cccaa.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/96. Tickets can be printed at home or made available on a hand held device. Tickets can also be bought at the gate with a mobile device. No cash will be accepted for tickets.
Admission, set by the CCCAA, is $12 for adults and $8 for seniors, students and children. Only CCCFCA or CCCAA passes are accepted for complimentary admission. VC football season passes, SCFA passes and ASVC ID's will not be accepted for entry.