Oxnard’s Lewis Leads West to Win in Ventura County Football Game

Oxnard High’s Kenyon Lewis led Ventura County backs with 1,368 rushing yards last football season, so it was no surprise that the West looked as if it should have been called Kenyon & Co. in the Ventura County Lions & Coaches All-Star Game at Larrabee Stadium on Saturday night.

Lewis, 6-foot and 180 pounds, accounted for 261 total yards in leading the West past the East, 28-19.

Lewis returned four kicks for 108 yards, gained 81 yards in seven carries and caught five passes for 72 yards. Also, to the surprise of almost no one in the crowd of 2,000, Lewis was chosen the game’s most valuable player.

Lewis scored two touchdowns and led a potent offensive attack for the West, which evened the series at 8-8-2. Ventura running back Jack Hammond gained 85 yards in 17 carries and Channel Islands’ Renard Carn added 68 yards in 10 carries for the West, which amassed 341 total yards.

With the West leading, 7-6, Lewis scampered 11 yards for a score, and Channel Islands’ Juan Vargas added the point after to extend the West’s lead to 14-6 with 7 minutes 23 minutes left in the third quarter.

The East answered with a 67-yard drive that was capped by an eight-yard pass from Thousand Oaks quarterback Scott Peterson to Newbury Park wide receiver Jason Smith, which cut the deficit to 14-12 with 4:01 left in the third quarter.

The West added another touchdown from Lewis, this time on an eight-yard pass from quarterback Pharoh Milner of Channel Islands with 11:49 remaining. Vargas’ point-after gave the West a 21-12 lead.

Peterson, who completed nine of 22 passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns, hit Smith for a 13-yard score and Royal’s Steve Prchal added the conversion to pull the East within 21-19 with 7:32 left.

Peterson was named the most valuable offensive player for the East.

The East then recovered an onside kick at the West’s 49, but the ensuing drive ended on downs at the 39. The West responded with a seven-yard run by Hammond with 3:06 left.

The East, which had a 44-yard touchdown run by Westlake’s Reuben Allen nullified by a holding penalty on its first drive, scored on its second drive with a 28-yard scoring pass from Peterson to Camarillo’s Eric Swindeman.

The East had taken over at the 28 when Royal’s Matt Tomaszewski recovered a fumble. Two plays later, Peterson hit Swindeman to make it 6-0 with no time remaining in the first quarter.

Milner threw an interception to end the West’s ensuing drive, but his team regained possession at midfield when the East fumbled on its second play from scrimmage.

Hammond ended the seven-play drive with a one-yard run, and Vargas added the conversion to give the West a 7-6 lead with 3:32 left in the first half.

The West’s drive was aided by consecutive completions as Milner hit Lewis for a 14-yard gain and Ventura’s Brian Righetti for 19 yards.

In the first half, the East was limited to minus-four yards rushing and 47 total yards.