Leon Leads Pirate Comeback for Playoff Victory

The Pirates had their backs against the wall. Down by 16 points late in the third quarter, quarterback Braesen Leon engineered three straight scoring drives in the final 18 minutes of play, running for a touchdown and passing for two more to lead VC past Cerritos 41-37 in the first round of the SCFA Playoffs at the VC Sportsplex. The Ventura signal caller finished with 427 yards passing in the game with three touchdowns, and rushed for 38 yards and another score.

Silas Kemp and Elijah Davis hauled in 135 and 130 yards receiving, respectively, with each visiting the end zone once. Meanwhile, Jaxon Arrington led the defensive effort with 17 tackles and Charlie Neos recorded 11 stops.

After fourth-seeded Ventura (10-1) went three-and-out on the opening possession of the game, the teams traded scores throughout the first half. Elijah Davis caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Leon with 5:41 left in the first quarter to answer a Cerritos score, and Love Adabeyo found paydirt from seven yards out early in the second quarter. Koen Glover powered his way into the end zone from one yard out with 3:21 remaining in the first half, and Arrington's interception in the end zone ended Cerritos' final scoring threat before halftime. The Pirates led 21-20 at intermission.

The Falcons, seeded No. 5 in the SCFA Playoffs, opened the third period with a 34-yard field goal, then recovered a Leon fumble nd turned it into six points one play later for a 30-21 lead with 9:09 remaining in the stanza. 

On the ensuing drive, VC drove 42 yards in 10 plays before being stopped on fourth-and-2 at the Falcons' 34-yard line. Cerritos took the ball and quickly scored on a 61-yard pass and run to hold a commanding 37-21 margin with 2:40 left in the quarter.

With their backs against the wall, the Pirates responded with a 73-yard, eight play drive for a score. Leon's 38-yard pass to Kemp set up the scoring play, a 7-yard scamper by Leon who dove across the goal line for the touchdown. The 2-point PAT attempt failed, leaving VC down 37-27 entering the fourth quarter.

The Pirate defense stopped Cerritos on a fourth-and-5 at the VC 27, leading to an eight play, 73-yard drive for Ventura. Leon punctuated the drive with a 39-yard scoring strike to Kemp, pulling VC to within 37-24 with 6:47 left in the game. 

After the ensuing kickoff, Cerritos went three-and-out for the first time all game, punting the ball back to the Pirates with 4:42 on the clock.

Leon threw for 61 of the 80 yards on the final drive, including a 19-yard completion to Kemp and a 10-yard pass play to Javarien Salter on fourth-and-1. Leon's 21-yard completion to Davis put VC on the Falcons' 25-yard line and, one play later, Leon hit Tayvion McCoy with a rocket down the right side from 21-yards out for the game-winning touchdown with 53 seconds remaining.

Cerritos drove to the Pirates' 9-yard line in the final minute of play, but the Ventura defense held them out of the end zone preserving the playoff win. Ventura's first home playoff win in the 100-year history of the program.

The Pirates will continue their season on Saturday Nov. 29 with a high-noon showdown with No. 1-seeded Golden West in Huntington Beach.