Coming to the end of the regular season, the Ventura College football team has made it a successful one.

They will be competing against Golden West in the Orange County Bowl after their 7-3 winning season. The Pirates are making their second bowl game appearance in just three years. Although it wasn’t the playoff-bound team everyone hoped it to be, the Pirates have some prospects looking to cash in on some scholarship offers.

A big advantage for these student athletes is this year’s bowl game.

“Scouts want to see you make big time plays in big time games,” said Nick Ruben, offensive lineman. “This is just another opportunity to get noticed.”

Ruben has been able to talk with Missouri Western State University and hopes to get a few more looks following the bowl. Another player hoping to grab some attention after the bowl game is the team’s leading tackler, Ryan Panapa.

Players looking at scholarships include quarterback Greg Jimenez, who’s talking with Southern Utah University, defensive lineman Wayne Blackwell, who has a possible scholarship with big time football school University of Texas at El Paso, and offensive lineman Curtis Cole, who has been offered a full ride to West Carolina University.

Even with all those big time players, the one Pirate everyone has their eye on is defensive back Travaun Nixon. Nixon has had a stand out year, with 38 tackles (four for losses and one sack) and a punt return average of 16.8 yards a carry.

Nixon also has six interceptions on the year, with one for a touchdown. He has been able to get in contact with teams from University of California, Berkeley, University of Arizona, West Virginia University, Auburn University and University of Hawaii.

What lies ahead for these athletes, remains to be seen.