Pirate running back Jesse Valenzuela was named first team-All Northern Conference for the Southern California Football Association in three positions, all-purpose, kick returner and punt returner, to lead seven Pirates named first team All-SCFA in voting by the conference coaches last month. Offensive lineman Caleb Barajas and wide receiver Tim Grear earned offensive nods to join Valenzuela while defensive lineman Jonah Rubadue, defensive end Angelo Jewell, defensive back Marquette Harris and punter LJ Harm also were named first team All-SCFA.
Valenzuela, a Camarillo High School product, led the conference with 167.3 all-purpose yards per game, including 641 rushing yards on 106 carries, 24 catches for 129 receiving yards, 283 punt return yards and 787 kick return yards on 22 and 27 attempts, respectively. He led the Northern Conference in kick return yards and average (among those with eight or more returns), came in second in punt return yards and average, and was fourth rushing yards and average. He scored four rushing touchdowns and found paydirt once each as a receiver, kick returner and punt returner. The sophomore was also named second-team ALL-SCFA as a running back to seal his place as the conference's top multi-purpose back.
Barajas, a sophomore from Ventura High School, anchored the Pirates' offensive line from his left tackle position, protecting the quarterback's blind side.
Grear, meanwhile, was one of the top receiving threats in the league, capturing 43 catches (seventh in the Northern Conference) for 764 yards (third) and seven scores (third). The redshirt freshman from New Orleans averaged nearly four catches per contest for over 69 yards, an average of nearly 18 yards per catch for the Northern Conference champions.
Defensively, Rubadue anchored the interior line for the Pirates, totaling 22 tackles. The sophomore from Parker, CO had 1.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss.
Jewell led VC's edge rushers with 48 stops. A sophomore from Woodbridge, VA, he recorded nine quarterback sacks and 13 tackles for a loss.
Harris, who hails from Upper Marlboro, MD, continued the VC tradition of outstanding defensive backs. He had 31 tackles, including four for a loss, and grabbed one interception with three pass break-ups. The sophomore was widely avoided by opposing quarterbacks on the strong defensive side of the ball for Ventura.
Harm had 41 punts on the year for a 37.7 yard average. The freshman from Spokane, WA placed 14 kicks inside the 20-yard line and also took over field goal and extra point kicks late in the season, connecting on all six of his field goal attempts and hitting eight of nine PAT's.
Joining Valenzuela on the second-team All-SCFA list includes running back JQ Brown (So., Grovetown, GA), wide receiver Chris Reaves (So., Perry, FL) and offensive lineman Kyle Stanback (So, Newbury Park HS). Second team defenders included inside linebacker Drew Carter (So., Camarillo HS) and outside linebacker Adrian Soracco (So., Bishop Diego HS).
Head Coach Steve Mooshagian was also named a co-coach of the year for leading VC to a three-way tie for the conference title, the Pirates third straight and eight in the past 10 years.
Ventura finished the season with a 7-4 record, making the post-season for the 10th straight season under Mooshagian. The Pirates won their final three games to claim a share of the Northern Conference title and advanced to the SCFA Playoffs for the fifth time in the past six seasons.