Ventura Shuts Down Keiaho, Buena

Buena and Ventura highs, cross-town rivals for nearly 30 years, gathered Friday night for a football game that likely would determine the Channel League champion.

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 8,000 watched host Ventura post a wild 14-10 win.

The Cougars, who improved to 7-1, 5-0 in league play, limited Buena sophomore running back George Keiaho to 38 yards in 11 carries. That is the second-worst output in Keiaho’s 18-game career. He entered the game with 1,083 yards this season.

Ventura also knocked Buena senior quarterback Matt Ertman out of the game with a broken collarbone in the first half.

The Cougars plugged seldom-used junior tailback Jake Kochel into the backfield and watched him run 20 yards for a score with 2 minutes 4 seconds remaining. It was only the second carry in the game for Kochel. Trevor Rumsey’s conversion gave Ventura a 14-10 lead.

“I’ve said for two weeks that Jake Kochel is their best running back, and he proved that tonight,” Buena Coach Rick Scott said.

Buena (6-2, 4-1) began its ensuing drive at its 39-yard line with 2:02 left. Behind three completions from junior Aaron Triana (seven of 17 for 111 yards), a junior who had attempted only three passes this season, the Bulldogs drove to Ventura’s 25. On second and 10, Triana’s pass was intercepted by Rumsey in the end zone with eight seconds left.

The interception ended a frustrating night for Buena, which twice turned the ball over deep in Ventura territory and also missed a field goal.

“Our kids have got to live with those kind of mistakes for the rest of their lives,” Scott said. “This was the biggest game in school history.”

Buena’s first two drives ended with a missed field goal and a turnover. The Bulldogs had driven to Ventura’s eight, but Matt Kemsley fumbled and the ball was recovered in the end zone by Ventura’s Chris Haynes with 1:09 left in the first quarter.

Ventura then drove 80 yards in 13 plays. A crucial pass interference penalty against Buena on third and nine gave Ventura a first down at Buena’s 25. On fourth and one, Derek Swafford (141 yards in 23 carries) leaped over the goal line and Rumsey’s conversion gave the Cougars a 7-0 lead with 7:07 left in the half.

After Buena lost the ball on downs, Ventura drove to the Bulldogs’ 23. But the drive ended when Rumsey was sacked on fourth down.

The Bulldogs took over at Ventura’s 31 with 1:12 left in the half and drove 49 yards. Triana hit David Furst (three receptions for 75 yards) for a 30-yard gain on third and 11, then hit Furst for 15 yards to Ventura’s 20. That set up Troy Scott’s 37-yard field goal with one second left, cutting Buena’s halftime deficit to 7-3.

Buena scored on the opening drive of the second half, after Jeremy Bolton’s 44-yard return gave Buena the ball at Ventura’s 26. On third and 17 at the 33, Triana hit Furst for a 30-yard gain to the three and Triana scored on a three-yard run two plays later. Scott’s conversion gave Buena a 10-7 lead with 9:57 left in the third quarter.

Junior fullback Devon Passno added 79 yards in 17 carries for Ventura, which outgained Buena, 284-251. A win next week would assure the Cougars of at least a tie for their second consecutive league title.