For the first 40 minutes of play Saturday, the Pirate football team was locked into a low-scoring battle with Cerritos. VC's touchdown with 4:03 remaining in the third quarter opened the floodgates, however, and the teams combined for six touchdowns and six lead changes in the final 20 minutes of Ventura's 35-31 setback to the Falcons. Eli Aragon had 184 receiving yards on nine catches and Jaylen Thompson rushed for 97 yards on 11 carries in the game. Zane Carter led the defense with 10 tackles, seven solo.
The opening stanza was dominated by turnovers for both sides. Twice Ventura drove down the field, only to have interceptions in the end zone prevent Pirate scores. Cerritos punched through one drive to paydirt for the 7-0 lead at the quarter break, but their second drive ended with a pick by VC's Jaylan Wesley at the goal line to keep the game close.
Ventura used the turnover to their advantage, driving 77 yards on eight plays to score three on Ryan Pimentel's 20-yard field goal to make it 7-3.
The Falcons responded with another long touchdown drive, but a penalty after the scoring play backed up the ensuing kickoff.
VC took full advantage of the Falcon penalty, starting their next drive at midfield with 1:46 remaining in the half. Daniel Duran connected with Aragon, who made a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch on a 28-yard pass play, setting up Lamonte James' 18-yard run to paydirt one play later. Pimentel's kick made it 14-10 for the Falcons headed to halftime.
The Pirate defense came up big in the third quarter forcing a three-and-out by the Falcons on the opening drive. Messiah Jones intercepted a Cerritos pass on their next possession and Michael Hayes recovered a Falcon fumble on the next. Un fortunately, the Pirates were not able to take advantage of the opportunities, punting the ball back on their first three drives.
Late in the period, the Pirates put some plays together on a 45-yard drive. Duran connected with Aragon for 15 yards to begin the series and Lamonte James finished things off with a strong second effort on a 3-yard touchdown run. Pimentel's kick made it 17-14 for the Pirates with 4:08 remaining in the quarter.
Cerritos responded with a 70-yard drive in eight plays, scoring a touchdown on the second play of the fourth quarter.
When the Pirates fumbled the ensuing kick-off, all the momentum seemed to be flowing toward the Falcons, who took possession at the VC 5-yard line. The Ventura defense held fast, however, stopping Cerritos on 4th-and-1 as Spencer McKelligon forced and recovered a Falcon fumble.
Two plays later, Aragon took a short out pass from Duran and raced 95 yards down the sideline for a touchdown, breaking a 66-year-old record for the longest pass play in school history. Pimentel's kick gave VC a 24-21 lead with 12:08 left to play.
Cerritos had an answer, however, marching 80 yards down the field in eight plays for another score. The Falcons led 28-24 with 7:47 on the clock.
Down, but not out, Ventura had another drive left in them. Beginning at their own 22, VC's Thompson had rushes of 10 and nine yards while Duran hit Aragon on a pair of passes to move to the Falcons' 35. Thompson then broke free for a 35-yard scamper to paydirt to put the Pirates back ahead. Pimentel's PAT made the score 31-28 at the 5:33 mark of the final quarter.
Unfortunately, Cerritos also had a drive remaining and they took full advantage. In quick-strike fashion, the Falcons scored the go-ahead touchdown in two plays, taking a 35-31 lead.
With 4:36 remaining in the game, the Pirates had time, but could not muster another score. After a 3-and-out, Ventura punted the ball away.
The Pirates defense then held Cerritos to a punt, but time ran out on Ventura in the narrow defeat.
Duran was 12-24 for 199 yards and a score passing, and James added 78 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries to VC's rushing attack. Alijah Hamilton had eight tackles defensively while Wesley and Ben Hall each had seven stops.
Ventura begins National Northern Conference play on Saturday Sept. 23 at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 pm in the afternoon affair.