Pirates run past SBCC on recrod-setting night

The VC football team ran past an overmatched Santa Barbara team Saturday in the "Big Game," rewriting the record books in their 73-14 victory over the Vaqueros. The Pirates amassed a program record 769 yards of offense, including a new standard of 486 on the ground, in totaling the second-most points in team history. Koen Glover and Javarien Salter totaled 199 and 102 yards rushing, respectively, and quarterback Braesen Leon threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns in the rivalry runaway.

The outcome of the game was a forgone conclusion just minutes into the game. The Pirates, ranked No. 4 in the state, scored on twice on passes from Leon, 46 yards to Tayvion McCoy and 27 yards to Silas Kemp, and once on a 6-yard run by Glover to take a 21-0 lead less than nine minutes into the game. Elijah Davis added an 8-yard touchdown reception from Leon with 1:56 remaining in the opening period.

Leon totaled 166 passing yards in the first 15 minutes of play, including three scoring strikes, setting the pace for the Pirate rout early.

On Ventura's first play from scrimmage in the second stanza, Glover scampered 72 yards to paydirt. Two possessions later, Love Adabeyo ran off tackle 70 yards to the end zone, putting VC ahead 42-0 at intermission.

Kemp caught his second touchdown pass of the night early in the third quarter, 28 yards from Leon, and Salter punctuated a 7-play, 50-yard drive for the Pirates with a 1-yard scoring run to answer a Vaquero score for the 56-7 advantage. Ashley McMichael added a 21-yard field goal at the end of the period to put Ventura ahead 59-7.

Antwon Lock took a short pass from Jayden McNabb from the Wildcat formation in the final stanza, racing 43 yards to the end zone, and McNabb ran for a 33-yard score later in the quarter to set the final margin.

The Pirates totaled 769 yards on offense on the night, besting the old school record of 734 yards, also set against Santa Barbara, in 2023. The 486 yards of rushing also set a new program record, breaking a 48-year-old mark of 452 yards set against West Valley in 1977.

Leon completed 15-18 passes on the night for his 240 yards and four touchdowns despite not playing in the fourth quarter.  Kemp had five pass receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns while McCoy had three catches for 63 yards and a score and Davis also hauled in three passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.

While Glover and Salter each topped the 100-yard mark rushing, Adabeyo carries the rock seven times for 82 yards and Sincere Cohen recorded seven runs for 74 yards.

Bodie Ing converted the Pirates' first three PAT's before McMichael nailed the final six extra points and added a field goal for nine points scored. 

Cedric Dennis led the defensive effort with five tackles while Easton Baker, Bode Fauskee, Nick Duffy and Masen Coso all recorded four stops. 

With the win, the Pirates retain the "Big Game" trophy, defeating the Vaqueros for the 10th straight match-up, and the 18th time in 19 games dating back to 1998.

At the midway point of the season, Ventura has a bye week on Oct. 4 before returning to action Saturday Oct. 11 at Allan Hancock College. Kickoff in Santa Maria is scheduled for 2:00 pm.