JC FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Ventura Rally Falls Short in 26-13 Setback

Ventura College has struggled on defense all season. And any thoughts that the Pirates might solve that problem Saturday night were dashed on the second play from scrimmage.

Tailback James Henderson of West Los Angeles raced 72 yards to a touchdown on a draw play to start the visiting Oilers on their way to a 26-13 Western State Conference victory.

And Henderson didn’t stop there, going on to rush for 156 yards in 19 carries.

Ventura (0-4, 0-3 in conference play) rallied with two touchdowns in the second half and threatened on two other possessions, but the Pirates couldn’t overcome a 20-0 halftime deficit.

West L.A. (2-2, 2-1) followed Henderson’s long run with a 10-yard scoring run by Jomo Gordon (145 yards, two touchdowns in 11 carries) and a five-yard touchdown pass from Damon Williams to Tamecus Peoples to take a 20-0 lead.

The first half could have been worse for the Pirates. West L.A. penetrated into Ventura territory on three other occasions only to be slowed by penalties. In addition, an 86-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Mike Moquel was wiped out by a motion penalty.

Ray Skeete (89 rushing yards in 19 carries, three receptions for 52 yards) put Ventura on the scoreboard in the third quarter, scampering eight yards on a counter play. A bad snap on the extra-point attempt left the score 20-6.

A 25-yard punt by the Oilers’ Aaron Solinger set up a 52-yard touchdown drive for Ventura in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Alan Sedacca (13 of 24 passing for 173 yards) went the final two yards on a fourth-and-goal play with eight minutes 42 seconds to play.

Trailing, 20-13, Tito Holguin intercepted a pass to give Ventura the ball at the West L.A. 43 with a chance to tie the score, but West L.A. held at the 26 when Kieron Mitchell broke up a fourth-down pass intended for Pirate tight end Jay Balkar with five minutes to play.

Delon Smith rushed for 89 yards in 17 attempts for Ventura.