Pirates Too Much for Dons at Santa Ana

The VC football team was simply too much for Santa Ana to handle Saturday as the Pirates recorded a 65-0 road win over the Dons to move to 8-0 on the season. Love Adabeyo ran for 82 yards and a touchdown and Braesen Leon passed for 22 yards and three scores to lead the way as state No. 3-ranked Ventura scored in all three phases, offense, defense and special teams, in the contest.

Leon set up the Pirates (8-0, 5-0) first score with a 27-yard pass play to Silas Kemp before hitting Elijah Davis from 11 yards out for score and a 7-0 lead midway through the opening period. 

On the ensuing kickoff, Kendric Smith forced a fumble on the return at the 16-yard-line and Nick Duffy snatched the ball out of the air and returned it to the house for another Pirate touchdown. 

VC drove 90 yards on 10 plays on the next possession, 83 yards on the arm of Leon, with Davis taking in his second touchdown reception of the game from 15 yards out. Bodie Ing's third PAT made it 21-0 with 14:18 left until halftime.

Tayvion McCoy set up the next Pirate drive with a 31-yard punt return. Javarien Salter's 27-yard run set up a 13-yard pass from Leon to McCoy for another trip to paydirt and Ashley McMichael's kick extended the lead to 28-0.

Eric Rivera ended the next Don possession with an interception, and two plays later, quarterback Devin Tate hit JD Rollins for a 54-yard bomb down the right side for yet another VC touchdown. Ventura led 42-0 at halftime.

Ing hit a 42-yard field goal and Adabeyo had a 24-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, before Johnny Ramos' 48-yard pick-6 began the final stanza for the Pirates. J'Lin Wingo's 1-yard run midway through the fourth closed the scoring in the 65-0 rout.

Leon was an economical 17-21 in the game for 222 yards and three touchdowns and Tate was 5-9 for 72 yards and a score. Rollins totaled 61 yards on three receptions with a touchdown and Ryan Gillum had three catches for 54 yards. Davis caught four passes for 47 yards with two trips top the end zone and Javarien Salter caught five passes for 42 yards.

Adabeyo carried the ball six times for his 82 yards and Salter had nine carries for 49 yards on the day.

Duffy and Masen Coso led a balanced defensive effort with five tackles each.

Ventura next travels to Long Beach on Saturday Nov. 1 for a 3:00 pm contest with the Vikings.