Ventura Overcomes Sickness and San Marcos

Ventura High set the science of medicine back 100 years and sent the Larrabee Stadium faithful into a frenzy Friday night.

Several key players were slowed by the flu all week but had enough to cough out a 30-14 victory over San Marcos.

The win allowed Ventura to clinch a share of its fifth Channel League championship in the 11-year career of Coach Harvey Kochel.

The Cougars (7-1-1, 5-0-1 in league play) can claim the title outright with a win over Rio Mesa next week.

“This is a tremendous testimony to kids rolling out of bed sick and playing good football,” Kochel said.

The Cougar offense rolled right along, amassing 408 yards. Figuring that San Marcos (3-6, 3-3) would attempt to key on the backfield tandem of Jack Hammond and Derek Swafford, Kochel turned quarterback Trevor Rumsey loose.

Rumsey responded with 139 yards rushing and 124 passing.

He scored on an 88-yard run in the first quarter and connected with Tito Holquin and Tommy Ruelas for touchdowns of 33 and 70 yards.

Swafford scored on a nine-yard run in the third quarter, and Rumsey added a 22-yard field goal in the final quarter.

San Marcos, which gained 367 yards, was led by quarterback David Lopez, who completed 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards. He also added a one-yard touchdown run.

Running back Mike Castelo, who gained 1,700 yards last year but missed five games this season with a knee injury, rushed for 100 yards in 15 carries. His 52-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave the Royals a brief 7-6 lead.

San Marcos had two opportunities to break the game open in the first half but squandered each chance.