By any measure, the Pirates' opponent Saturday at Saddleback was highly ranked. The Gauchos were No. 1 in SoCal, No. 2 in the state and No. 4 nationally, according to various polls, and proved to be a difficult game in VC's 49-20 loss in Mission Viejo. The Pirates (3-2), who entered the game ranked No. 8, No. 5, and No. 10, respectively, could not keep pace on the road in their final non-conference game of the season.
The teams traded punts early before Saddleback broke through with a trip to the end zone with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter. Ventura was driving for an answer on the ensuing possession, but an 8-play, 75-yard drive stalled inside the Gaucho 10-yard line forcing a 26 yard Cooper Garcia field goal to make the score 7-3 with 2:09 on the clock.
Saddleback waited little time for their response, gaining ground in 14-, 16-, 8-, and 14-yard chunks, scoring another touchdown in 1:23 of game time to take a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
VC went on the offensive again, moving the ball with five plays of 10 or more yards to the Saddleback 8-yard line once again before settling for their second Garcia field goal of the night. The Pirates trailed 14-6 with 13:45 left in the first half.
The Gauchos scored touchdowns on their final two possessions of the quarter to take a 28-6 lead into halftime. They came out of the break with another trip to the end zone to fully take control 35-6 with 13:10 left in the third period.
Ventura showed signs of life at that point, putting together back-to-back touchdown drives. Quarterback Jake Luton ran for 13 yards for the Pirates' first touchdown of the night with 10:01 left in the quarter, culminating an 8-play, 66-yard drive.
After forcing a Saddleback punt, VC fund the end zone again, this time via a 28-yard pass play from Luton to Kendric Mallory. Garcia's kick made it 35-20 as the third quarter ended.
It was all Saddleback in the final quarter, however, as the Gauchos scored two more touchdowns to set the final margin at 49-20.
Luton passed for 214 yards, connecting on 17 of 34 passes with a touchdown. Isaiah Brown had a solid ground game with 16 carries for 90 yards. Eight Pirates recorded catches in the game, led by three each from Brandon Jordan and Jonte Broski. Kameron Carroll and Kendrick Bradley led the defense with 10 and nine tackles respectively.
Ventura will have a bye week to rest and recover form the most difficult non-conference schedule in Southern California before heading into Northern Conference play. VC's next contest in Saturday Oct 15 at College of the Canyons. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm in Santa Clarita.