Ventura Holds Off Buena

Come next week, you might still be able to see the claw marks from where the Ventura High Cougars hung on to victory.

Ventura withstood a blocked punt and a fumble in the final four minutes of Friday night’s Channel League game at Ventura High to defeat Buena, 19-14, and create a three-way tie for the league title.

The Cougars (8-2) and Bulldogs (7-3) share the title with Santa Barbara, a 34-21 winner over San Marcos. All finished with 6-1 league records.

“We haven’t done that good in pressure situations,” Ventura quarterback Erik Olson said. “Luckily, our defense had a huge night tonight.”

Ventura held Buena to 187 yards in offense. Still, the Bulldogs had a chance for victory in the final minutes.

With 3 minutes 24 seconds left in the game, Brett Eberhard picked up a blocked punt at the Ventura 15-yard line and carried it in for a touchdown, cutting Ventura’s lead to 19-14.

The Cougars recovered Buena’s onside kick, but three plays later, defensive lineman Cicilio Flores recovered a fumble at the Buena 39-yard line with 2:39 to play.

“Any time you get in a game like this, like Casey (Stengel) said, ‘It’s never over,’ ” Ventura Coach Phil McCune said. Actually, Yogi Berra said it, but no matter.

Buena advanced only to midfield, however, before Clint Evans sacked Bulldog quarterback Chris Carr on fourth down with 1:03 left to seal the victory.

“We’re a ball-control team,” Buena Coach Rick Scott said. “We kind of got flustered at the end.”

Buena running back George Keiaho finished with 112 yards rushing in 28 carries.

Olson threw two touchdown passes to George Lopez (who also had an interception). In addition, Olson rushed for 111 yards in 18 carries, including the game’s only score in the first half.

Shaking loose of two tacklers, Olson broke free through the middle, curled to his left and ran down the sideline for a 72-yard touchdown and a 6-0 first-quarter lead.

Buena took a 7-6 lead in the third quarter on a one-yard run by Keiaho, but Ventura countered with Olson’s two scoring passes.

He completed a nine-yard scoring pass to Lopez at the end of the third quarter as Ventura regained the lead, 12-7. Olson then connected with Lopez on a 36-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.