Lester’s Run Lets Hancock Bowl Over Ventura, 20-13

Chris Lester had 149 yards in 21 carries and scored the winning touchdown on a seven-yard run, and Hancock College defeated Ventura, 20-13, in the Western State Conference Bowl on Saturday night at Nordhoff High.

Hancock (10-1) plays City College of San Francisco in the state championship game next Saturday at Fresno City College.

After Paul Czerniak kicked a 50-yard field goal to cut Hancock’s lead to 20-13 with 1:05 to play, Morgan Stewart recovered an on-side kick at Ventura’s 41.

The Pirates (9-2), ranked No. 4 in the state and No. 1 in Southern California, drove to the Hancock 14, but Glenn Dudley threw four consecutive incompletions and Hancock took over on downs.

Dudley completed 15 of 34 passes for 203 yards.

Travis Rogers had 65 yards in 15 carries, including a two-yard touchdown run that increased Ventura’s lead to 10-0 early in the third quarter.

Doug Pazdan, the top-rated passer in the state, completed nine of 15 passes for 106 yards for the Bulldogs.

He threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Jason Ferkel that gave Hancock its first lead, 13-10, midway through the third quarter.