Ventura Runs From Behind to Edge Simi Valley, 24-19

Eric Bennett had his moments--right up until the final seconds of Friday night’s nonleague opener at Simi Valley High.

But Ventura had the momentum in the fourth quarter of a seesaw game, putting together a pair of touchdown drives in the final seven minutes to come from behind to defeat Simi Valley, 24-19.

Bennett, Simi Valley’s talented senior quarterback, completed 19 of 36 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception. Bennett, who passed for more than 2,400 yards last season, filled the air with a variety of passes, including an eight-yard toss to Tom Herman with 19 seconds to play to provide for a nail-biting finish.

Only when the Pioneers’ onside kick skidded out of bounds did Ventura, ranked No. 1 in The Times regional poll, emerge with a win. “We moved the ball really well,” Bennett said. “We just didn’t get it in the end zone enough times.”

Ventura ran its way to victory behind tailback Derek Swafford, who rushed for 139 yards in 17 carries, and fullback Devon Passno, who rushed for 121 yards in 13 carries.

Swafford’s three-yard burst with 6 minutes 33 seconds to play gave the Cougars a 17-13 lead after Simi Valley had taken a 13-10 halftime lead.

Four minutes later, Passno bolted 19 yards off tackle for another touchdown. All told, Ventura rushed for 332 yards.

“I don’t think we ever ran them down,” Ventura Coach Harvey Kochel said. “I think it was a game to the very end.”

Simi Valley began with a bang, driving 85 yards on the game’s opening series to take a 7-0 lead. The big gainer was a 58-yard strike from Bennett to Aaron Whitley to set up a first down at the Ventura 26. After a run by tailback Jevon Markarian and an 11-yard scramble by Bennett, Bennett threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Kalbfus over the middle.

Ventura countered with a 10-play, 79-yard touchdown drive, mostly on option and off-tackle runs.