Looking more like mid-season as opposed to opening night, the Ventura College football team got off to a strong start Saturday with a 49-34 victory over Saddleback at the Sportsplex. Quarterback Daniel Duran passed for 204 yards and three touchdowns while running backs Quran Gossett and Jake Murphy totaled 119 and 105 yards rushing, respectively led the way while Zane Carter totaled seven tackles and had the highlight play of the night with an 80-yard pick-six for the state No. 7-ranked Pirates.
Ventura quickly scored on their first two possessions of the game to take control early. A 57 yard pass from Duran to Silas Kemp set up the Pirates' first score, a Duran to Jayon Farrar 2-yard pass less than two minutes into the game.
After the VC defense forced a Bobcat three-and-out, Duran led Ventura on a six-play, 89-yard yard drive on the next possession for another score. Murphy had a 51-yard scamper on VC's first play of the drive and Gossett found paydirt with a 12-yard run.
Ryan Pimentel, who was a perfect 7-7 on PAT tries on the night, capped both scores for a 14-0 Pirate advantage with 9:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Saddleback, ranked No. 20 in the state, scored a touchdown with an unsuccessful PAT before Carter provided the finishing touches on the opening period with his 80-yard pick-six for a 21-6 VC lead.
1st Half Highlight - Zane Carter with an 80yd #pick6 finished off with a #stiffarm to put the Pirates up 21-6 over Saddleback! ����☠️ @VCPirateFB pic.twitter.com/esgE8X6J2r
— VCPirateAthletics (@VCAthletics) September 8, 2024
Both teams found the end zone in the second quarter with the Bobcats striking at the 13:20 mark to cut the Pirate lead to 21-13.
Ventura extended their advantage before intermission with a four-play 56 yard drive late in the period. Duran set up the score with a 38-yard rocket to Kemp, who caught the ball despite a pass interference penalty by the Bobcats. Gossett scored on a 10-yard catch and run from a Duran pass, on which he avoided four would-be Saddleback tacklers while working down the left sideline to the end zone. VC led 28-13 at halftime.
The Bobcats used a long, 11-play, 76-yard drive to pull back within one score in the third quarter, closing to within 28-20 late in the period.
VC countered with a nine-play drive through the quarter break, culminating with a three-yard run by Gossett to reestablish the 15-point margin.
Gossett's 33-yard run set up a 9-yard pass from Duran to Tanner Crandall on the next Pirate possession as they opened up a 42-20 lead with 8:49 remaining in the game.
Ventura's final score came on a 36-yard Gossett run around left end and Pimentel put the finishing touches on the 49-34 win.
Gossett carried the ball 14 times for 119 yards and three touchdowns in his VC debut and Murphy had 105 yards on 11 carries.
Duran completed 19 of 26 passes for his 204 yards with three touchdowns. Kemp led VC with six catches for 121 yards while Gossett and Farrar had 32 and 28 yards receiveing, respectively, each with a score.
Carter and Ty Morris led the Pirates defense with seven tackles each and Shahid Wilson totaled six stops with a tackle for a loss and two pass break-ups.
Ventura next travels to No. 3 Mt. San Antonio on Saturday Sept. 14. Their next home game will be Saturday Sept. 28 against Allan Hancock College.