Swafford Runs for 292 Yards as Ventura Romps, 62-27

George Keiaho kept lowering his shoulder. But Derek Swafford kept lowering the boom.

As a result, each player rushed for nearly 300 yards. But the battle of the Channel League backs was hardly a contest, as Ventura, behind five touchdowns by Swafford, routed Buena, 62-27, before approximately 8,000 spectators Friday night at Ventura High.

Swafford, the Cougars’ senior tailback, rushed for 292 yards in 21 carries, including scoring runs of 69, seven, 45 and 89 yards. Swafford also caught a 52-yard touchdown pass toward 339 all-purpose yards.

The win moved Ventura (7-2, 4-2 in league play) into a second-place tie with Buena (5-4, 4-2) with one game to play.

“I finally got my game,” said Swafford, who entered play with 738 yards in 84 carries. “Everything went my way tonight.”

Keiaho (5-foot-9, 195 pounds), Buena’s standout junior running back, rushed for 280 yards and three touchdowns in 30 carries, and repeatedly punished would-tacklers with his helmet and bludgeoning legs.

“He just keeps those feet going and it’s hard to try to get him down,” defensive back Jake Kochel said.

On a 64-yard, fourth-quarter scoring drive, Keiaho slammed into the Cougar defense on five consecutive plays--the final one a four-yard touchdown run to pull the Bulldogs to within 48-21.

After a successful onside kick, Buena punched its way to the Cougar five-yard line on seven consecutive runs by Keiaho. However, Ventura stopped Keiaho on fourth down with seven minutes to play.

Two plays later, Swafford took a pitch, cut back across the field and ran 89 yards for a touchdown.

All told, Ventura rushed for 471 yards to Buena’s 325. Ventura senior fullback Devon Passno added 167 yards in 13 carries, including a 65-yard touchdown run. Kochel, a reserve running back, added a 13-yard touchdown run to close out the scoring.

“It’s great,” Kochel said. “I love to beat the ‘Dogs.”

It was never really close.

Ventura led, 20-0, before Buena had gained a yard. Buena’s Bryan Cesario fumbled the opening kickoff and Ventura’s Mike Urteaga, grabbing the ball on a hop, ran 20 yards for a touchdown.

Ventura followed with touchdowns on its next two possessions. Quarterback Mike Ellis hit Swafford with a quick pass over the middle that went for a 52-yard score. After another sputtering drive by Buena, Swafford took a pitch to the short side of the field, cut back inside and streaked 69 yards for a touchdown.

Buena’s first gain came on the next play from scrimmage. Keiaho took a handoff, bowled over a pair of would-be tacklers at the line of scrimmage and rambled 66 yards for a touchdown.

Moments later, Ventura moved 21 yards in three plays, with Swafford sweeping seven yards to give the Cougars a 27-7 lead.