Ventura Stays Alive, 42-20, as Ellis Passes for 3 Scores

Ventura High was battling for survival Friday night and quarterback Mike Ellis made sure the Cougars scratched out a 42-20 Channel League victory over Oxnard at Ventura.

Facing elimination from the Southern Section playoff race with a loss, Ventura (6-2, 3-2 in league play) stayed alive as Ellis threw three touchdown passes, including an 18-yard strike to George Lopez that put the game out of reach, 35-20, with 4 1/2 minutes left.

The loss officially knocked Oxnard (4-4, 1-4) from playoff contention.

Ventura survived the ejection of wingback-defensive back Derek Swafford and linebacker Erik Givens for fighting with eight minutes left in the third quarter. On the same play, Oxnard tackle Victor Navarro and receiver Aaron Alvarez also were ejected.

On the next play, Oxnard’s Robert Meek--who shanked previous punts for 15 and six yards--faked a punt and dashed around the left side for 57 yards and a touchdown that cut Ventura’s lead to 21-14.

“With the fight and that touchdown on the next play, momentum really turned,” Ventura Coach Phil McCune said. “What turned it back to us is that we had too many athletes for Oxnard.”

Ventura scored 21 fourth-quarter points to pull away.

Ellis completed five of eight passes for 108 yards. Two of his touchdown tosses went to Lopez, with Swafford accounting for the third.

“Mike has done everything we’ve asked of him,” McCune said.

Fullback Devon Passno (14 carries, 176 yards) scored on a 43-yard run, and defensive back Erik Olson ran back an interception 70 yards for Ventura’s other fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Swafford helped the Cougars build an early 21-0 lead, scoring from four yards on the Cougars’ first possession. He also turned a short Ellis pass into a 42-yard scoring play in the second quarter. After Ellis connected with Lopez from 20 yards, Ventura had a 21-0 lead.

Oxnard quarterback Larry Bumpus passed for one touchdown and scored another himself on a one-yard sneak.