COC football drops conference opener

College of the Canyons defensive lineman Dorian Gerald (99) brings down Ventura quarterback Jake Luton at Cougar Stadium. Tom Cruze/For The Signal
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Jake Luton of the Ventura College Pirates led an aerial assault against the College of the Canyon Cougars Saturday night at COC, throwing five touchdowns in Ventura’s 48-25 rout of the Cougars.

The game marked the beginning of play for both teams in the National Division, Northern Conference.

Luton, who was 29-of-40 with 294 passing yards, threw a TD on the Pirates’ first possession with a 9-yard pass to Kendric Mallory. A blocked extra point left the score 6-0.

“The first drive set the tone,” said Ventura coach Steve Mooshagian. “I thought Canyons played really hard.”

After stopping COC (2-4 overall, 0-1 in conference) on fourth down, Ventura (4-2, 1-0) scored on their second possession when Luton found Logan Javernick for a 2-yard touchdown.

College of the Canyons receiver Marquise Brown hauls in a touchdown pass in the third quarter against Ventura at Cougar Stadium on Saturday. Tom Cruze/For The Signal
College of the Canyons receiver Marquise Brown hauls in a touchdown pass in the third quarter against Ventura at Cougar Stadium on Saturday. Tom Cruze/For The Signal

The second quarter saw Cougar Hayden Wright intercept Luton, setting COC up at the Ventura 18-yard line. After a 17-yard run by Tylan McBride, the Cougars fumbled the next snap, and the Pirates recovered.

Luton soon made them pay with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Cam Taylor.

Down 20-0, Kavon Jarrell corralled the second of three Cougars’ interceptions. Backup quarterback Louis Eusebi completed a 28-yard pass on third-and-15, bringing the ball to Ventura’s 6-yard line.

But COC had to settle for Kevin Neitzke’s 29-yard field goal, making the halftime score 20-3.

COC’s RB Marlow fumbled during the second half kickoff, giving Ventura the ball at the Cougar 25-yard line and leading to a 19-yard touchdown pass from Luton to Elijah Alexander.

The game remained at 27-3 until COC quarterback CJ Williams found Marquise Brown on a 10-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 27-10 late in the third quarter.

COC running back Kyle Smith (20) avoids a tackle during a second-half run against Ventura at Cougar Stadium Saturday. Tom Cruze/For The Signal
COC running back Kyle Smith (20) avoids a tackle during a second-half run against Ventura at Cougar Stadium Saturday. Tom Cruze/For The Signal

The fourth quarter began with a Luton 1-yard touchdown run, making the score 34-10. COC inserted quarterback Matt Moore who, after a Ventura fumble, threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Marlow.

The Pirates responded with a 4-yard Luton touchdown pass, this one to Brandon Jordan, to make the score 41-17.

Moore and Marlow continued their connection with a 29-yard touchdown pass. An ensuing two-point conversion made the score 41-25.

The Cougars then recovered an onside kick, but couldn’t convert on fourth down. A 5-yard touchdown run by Ventura’s Isaiah Brown set the final score at 48-25.

“They are a dangerous team, and we needed to play our best game to have a chance,” said COC coach Ted Iacenda. “Obviously we made too many mistakes tonight.”

 

COC will look for its first conference win when it travels to Moorpark College to face the Raiders next Saturday.

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