JUNIOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : WESTERN STATE CONFERENCE

Ventura 44, Compton 17--Using an effective ground attack that featured nine ballcarriers, the visiting Pirates enjoyed their most productive offensive output of the year in a Northern Division game.

Ventura (2-7, 2-6, 2-2), which entered the game having scored only 109 points, amassed 324 yards rushing and 137 passing in winning its second consecutive game.

Ventura’s John Patton rushed for a game-high 96 yards in seven carries, and teammate Delon Smith (60 yards, 11 carries) scored on runs of 17 and five yards.

Pirate quarterback Charles Hicks, who replaced starter Alan Sedacca in the first quarter after Sedacca injured a knee, completed six of 16 for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Hicks, formerly of El Camino Real High, also rushed for 63 yards in seven carries.

After Tory Rieman put Ventura on the board with a 33-yard field goal, the Pirates gained momentum when lineman Jay Balkar pounced on a Compton fumble at the Tartar goal line for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Hicks connected with tight end Chad Brooks from 12 yards to give Ventura a 16-0 lead in the second quarter, and the quarterback later teamed with Wautani Richard on an eight-yard touchdown pass that gave the Pirates a 29-11 halftime lead.

Compton (0-9, 0-8, 0-4) gained 323 yards, but 96 came on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass play from quarterback Tyrone Phillips to receiver LaBarron Edwards.

Sedacca, who entered the game needing 72 passing yards to reach 1,000, is not expected to play in the Pirates’ season finale next this week. He completed four of five for 45 yards. Pirate running back Mike Gee left the game because of a shoulder injury.