After a tough losing streak that the Ventura College Pirates held, they brought heart to the field and gave it their all, beating the Bakersfield Renegades with a final score of 31-17 on Saturday Nov. 1. In the first quarter the Pirates were up 7-0 after Pirates’ kicker Alex Diaz connected with an extra point kick.
However, the Pirates were unable to hold that score in the first quarter as the Renegades scored, finishing the first quarter with a tied game 7-7. The Pirates defense came out working hard in the second quarter, however, as the Renegades offense scored making the score 14-7. The Pirates Receiver BJ Washington was the key who tied up the game at 14-14 with 6:43 left in the half as he received a pass from Pirates’ quarterback Lee Mondel. With 20 seconds left in the half, Tim Pope added to the score as he received a pass from Mondel and took the ball 20 yards into the end zone taking the score to 21-14.
In the third quarter, defense was the name of the game as neither side scored and the game stayed at 21-14. As the Renegades came out in the fourth quarter looking to make a difference, the Renegades put up a field goal with 10:27 left in the game putting the score to 21-17. The field goal kicker for the Pirates, Alex Diaz, also had something to prove as he scored a field goal bringing the Pirates’ lead back to seven.
After Diaz scored, the team seemed motivated and pumped as they started pushing the offence and made the last touchdown by Nick Karam, finishing the game with the final score of 31-17. Pirates’ kicker Alex Diaz felt that he had a number of things benefiting him. “I tried to stay focused for this game and tried too have fun and not think about other things,” said Diaz. “I made a promise to a buddy of mine that I would dedicate this game to his father that just passed away not so long ago and that motivated me to keep going and not give up.” Quarter back Lee Mondel felt that he was prepared.
“I came out confident in the first half and kept it that way throughout the game but I feel we left the score too close in the fourth quarte,” said Mondel. The Pirates next game will be at Hancock on Nov. 8 with kick off set for 8 p.m.
No. 20 Michael Lee follows his blocks and looks for a route upfield. (Christian Randolph)
