The box scores will mark it down as a yard-and-a-half, two-point conversion, but the box score doesn’t begin to explain the teeter-totter of lead and momentum shifts in the first showing of the Orange County Rooster Bowl.

In the first round of overtime, Ventura College Pirates quarterback Antavius Sims tossed up an 11-yard touchdown pass to Mike Holcomb to take a 36-29 lead over the Golden West College Rustlers.

With the Rustlers having possession of the ball they scored a touchdown, and then went on to put up a field goal to tie the game up in overtime.

However, Rustlers kicker Eric Torres was roughed up on the point after the touchdown attempt, so the referees took the point off the scoreboard and moved the ball up to the one-and-a-half yard line.

It was at that point that the Rustlers decided to go for the two-point conversion, and Chris Spencer ran into the end zone, shattering the Pirates chances for its first bowl win since 2007.

On the last play of the game, Sims scrambled and went out of bounds, but with no time remaining on the clock. Assuming the game was over; the Rustlers bench had cleared and went to celebrate.

Then, the flags came out from the referees. A personal foul later and one miracle play away from forcing overtime, Pirates’ kicker Tyler Stampler put up a 30-yard chip shot to tie the game at 29 each.

He converted and the wild overtime ensued.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, the Pirates received a gift in the form of a safety to give them a 23-21 lead with 7:40 remaining in the fourth. The Pirates were unable to score a touchdown on the next drive, so instead settled for a field goal from Stampler to give them a 26-21 lead.

The Pirates defense forced three turnovers on interceptions and almost a fourth in overtime that slipped out of the defenders hands.

Sims ended the season on a positive note throwing for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 16 of 25 pass attempts, and rushed for another 92 yards. He was responsible for a touchdown on the ground as well.

With the loss, the Pirates ended their season at 7-4, and moved the school’s record to 3-7 all-time in bowl games.