The Pirate football team hung 64 points on the board Saturday night in their 64-35 win over College of the Canyons at the VC Sportsplex, the best total since scoring 66 points in the inaugural Citrus Cup game in 1968 against Moorpark. With the win, Ventura (5-3, 4-0) clinches at least a share of its second Northern Conference championship, needing one more win in its final two games to claim the title outright.
Running back Aaron Stanton rushed for 159 yards and two scores while quarterback Marc Evans passed for 161 yards and onother two touchdowns to lead the Pirates. The VC defense sacked the Canyons quarterback four times and forced six Cougar turnovers, including three interceptions, one of which was returned to paydirt. The special teams got into the act as well, with an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the game.
Ventura took its opening drive of the game 65 yards in 10 plays, capped by a three-yard touchdown run by Stanton. Jake Lanski's extra point put VC ahead 7-0 with 10:30 still remaining in the first quarter.
The Cougars came right back, however, scoring four minutes later on a 75-yard nine-play drive to tie the score.
VC was unable to get things rolling on the next drive, but a 51-yard Isaiah Jackson punt, combined with a penalty pinned CoC deep in their own end to begin the next drive. Two plays later, with pressure by defensive lineman Tyshon Lee, the Canyons quarterback made a pass right into the waiting arms of VC defensive end David Owens. Owens returned the pick 11 yards into the end zone, behind Lee's block. The PAT attempt failed and the Pirates led 13-7, still in the first quarter.
In the waning moments ofthe period, Canyons scored another touchdown, and with the extra point, took a 14-13 lead.
Early in the second qquarter, the Pirates responded. Lanski's 25-yard field goal put VC ahead for good, 16-14, with 12:32 on the clock.
Chris Marshall book-ended the next Pirate drive. he set it all up with a 26-yard punt return to give VC the ball at midfield, and then caught a 17-yard touchdown strike from Evans on a fourth-and-four eight plays later.
After a missed VC field goal attempt late in the half, Kiko Fonohema picked off a Canyons pass, returning it 15 yards to the Cougar 17-yard line. Four plays later, Evans ran the final yard to the end zone, and Lanski's converted the kick to made the halftime score 30-14.
Midway through the third quarter, the Cougars mishandled a fair catch on a punt, and Ja'Quez Avent was on the spot to recover the fumble for Ventrua. On the next play, Paul Harris ran 16 yards to the end zone for the Pirate touchdown. Lanski's kick was good and the Pirates led 37-14.
Tanner Geiger forced a CoC fumble on the next possession, recovered by Kyler O'Halloran, and the rout seemed to be in full swimg. Six plays later, with the Pirates driving, the Cougars had second-thoughts, however, forcing a fumble and returning it 70 yards for a touchdown to bring the VC advantage back to two scores, 37-21.
On the ensuing kickoff, Stanton returned the kick 58 yards, giving the Pirates a short field beguinning at the CoC 35-yard line. He then punctuated the brief, four-play drive with a 13-yard scamper to the end zone, reestablishing Ventura's dominance on the scoreboard. After Lanski's extra point, the Priates led 44-21 with 3:20 remaining in the third quarter.
Early in the final period, Montre Lee hauled ina 19-yard scoring strike from Evans, putting the Pirates over 50 points for the second straight game.
Following a quick Canyons score, Chris Beeson wasted little time in answering with an 18-yard run for a score. lanski's kick made the score 57-28 with 9:06 remaining in the game.
Aaron Davis punctuated the night with an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown with 6:13 left to play.
The Cougars scored an inconsequential touchdown late as VC rolled to the 64-35 win.
The 64 points was but four points shy of VC's all-time record of 68 scored in 1933 against "Santa Barbara State." It was the team's best point total in 46 years, however, since the 1968 Citrus Cup game.
Harris and Beeson added 90 and 69 yards, respectively, to a ground attack that racked up 354 yards against the Cougars.
Marshall led the receiving corps with six catches for 63 yards and a score. in all, seven Pirate receivers recorded a reception in the game.
Matt Singleton led the defense with eight tackles, including a sack, and O'Halloran totaled seven stops.
The Pirates will close out their home schedule next Saturday, Nov. 8, against Allan Hancock College. A win in that game, or in the season finale at Bakersfield Nov. 15 will clinch outright the team's second conference title in three years, and secure a trip to the SCFA playoffs. kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm at the VC Sportsplex.