Ebell Continues Record Chase for Ventura, 56-22

Tyler Ebell’s pursuit of the state single-season rushing record will have to wait at least one more week.

Ebell rushed for a season-low 200 yards and five touchdowns in 31 carries Friday to lead host Ventura High to a 56-22 victory over Righetti in the first round of the Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

“Weak,” Ebell said.

Ebell, who has rushed for 3,537 yards, moved into second place in the state’s single-season rushing list. He needs 50 yards to pass Kilpatrick’s Jermaine Marshall, who set the record last season.

Ebell also moved to third among the region’s career rushing leaders with 6,427 yards, passing former Notre Dame star Justin Fargas.

Ebell scored on runs of two, 27, and five yards in the first half. Andrew Lovier threw two touchdown passes and Jim Renshaw returned a blocked punt two yards for a score to give Ventura (10-1) a 42-0 halftime lead.

Righetti (6-5) scored on a safety and capitalized on a fumble by Ebell to cut the deficit to 42-16 with 1:58 to play in the third quarter. Joseph Dally caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Danny Brown.

Ebell, who has committed to UCLA, added scoring runs of six and two yards in the third quarter to extend Ventura’s lead to 56-16. He was taken out of the game by Coach Phil McCune with 6:49 remaining.

Lovier completed nine of 10 for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Chris Foster caught five passes for 82 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown that gave the Cougars a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.

Ventura linebacker Victor Holmes had eight tackles, a sack and forced a fumble.

The Cougars held the Warriors to 70 yards and four first downs in the first half.

Holmes and Bryan Easterly harassed Brown for most of the game. Easterly had two sacks and Brown completed three of 17 passes for 62 yards.

Righetti’s Ryan Casiday rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown in 13 carries.

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Ebell Watch

Tyler Ebell of Ventura is the eighth player in state history to rush for 3,000 yards in a season. The state record is 3,586 yards by Jermaine Marshall of Kilpatrick. A look at Ebell’s season, followed by the state’s top 10 list:

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Opponent Att. Yds. Avg. TD Simi Valley 12 330 27.5 4 Moorpark 26 375 14.4 5 Royal 21 308 14.8 4 Arroyo Grande 44 393 8.9 6 Oxnard 32 379 11.8 5 Buena 34 240 7.1 3 San Marcos 19 361 19.0 6 Dos Pueblos 22 351 16.0 6 Santa Barbara 24 365 15.2 4 Hueneme 24 235 10.0 4 Righetti 31 200 6.5 5 Totals 289 3,537 12.3 52

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Top of the Charts

A look at the top 10 single-season rushers in state history:

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Player, School Years Yards Jermaine Marshall, Kilpatrick 1999 3,586 Tyler Ebell, Ventura 2000 3,537 David Dotson, Valley View 1991 3,523 John Bordenkircher, Dixon 1997 3,416 DeShaun Foster, Tustin 1997 3,398 Chris Hanks, L.A. Cathedral 1997 3,263 Oscar Arzu, Sierra Vista 1996 3,219 Onterrio Smith, Sac’to Grant 1998 3,125 Justin Fargas, Notre Dame 1997 2,970 T.J. Bird, Cloverdale 1997 2,868

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