Ventura College football team clinches conference championship with win at Canyons

SANTA CLARITA — The secondary was primary as the Ventura College football team clinched a championship on the road Saturday night.

Three interceptions in the final 16 minutes provided the spark as the No. 1-ranked Pirates came from behind to beat No. 3 College of the Canyons, 19-7, to clinch the SCFA Northern Conference title at Cougar Stadium.

“That was something,” said Ventura coach Steve Mooshagian, still dripping from his post-championship water-bucket dousing.

Donyai Dixon’s 90-yard interception return for a touchdown gave VC the lead with 43 seconds left in the third quarter and Cam Williams and CJ Hodgdon protected it with a pair of red-zone interceptions in the fourth quarter.

“I’m just here to play my part and get us a ‘W,’ ” said Dixon. “Coming out of halftime, our coach told us it was going to be on us. We (had) to make a play and that’s what we did.”

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Now 9-0 for just the second time in the program’s 96-year history, Ventura can complete its argument for Southern California’s No. 1 playoff seed next Saturday by completing an undefeated regular season in its finale against East Los Angeles College.

Forcing turnovers was the emphasis in the locker room at halftime.

Ventura hadn’t forced a turnover in three consecutive halves, since three takeaways in the 23-17 win over Bakersfield on Oct. 23.

“All the credit goes to the guys,” said Ventura defensive coordinator Mike Haydon. “They prepare, week in and week out, like it’s a championship week. They practice for it and they embrace it.”

Demetrius Edwards had two sacks, Matt Boyda had a sack and Channel Islands High graduate Ralph Navarro and Jonah Rubadue split another sack as the defense lifted VC to victory.

Running back Julian Kelly ran for 99 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Quarterback Jordan Pachot completed 15 of 26 passes for 115 yards, 52 of which went to receiver Mark Ferrell on four receptions.

Ventura took the opening kickoff and drove 18 plays to the Canyons 4, but was held to a 32-yard Alberto Arroyo field goal.

Canyons took a 7-3 lead on Colton Doyle’s 38-yard scoring strike to receiver Tiquan Gilmore with 13:13 left in the second quarter.

“Their wideout, Tyquan Gilmore, is a really good player,” Mooshagian said.

Kelly’s 23-yard run and Pachot’s 19-yard pass to Ferrell set up a second Arroyo field goal, which pulled the Pirates within 7-6 with 7:15 left in the third quarter.

As Canyons drove to the Ventura 15-yard line in the final minute, Mooshagian was considering two-point plays he’d potentially need to tie the game late.

“I’m thinking of all the scenarios,” Mooshagian said. “And then all of a sudden Donyai picks it off.

“He got blocks. He made a great cut and scored.”

Attempting to answer, COC drove to the Ventura 17 on its next possession. But Williams picked off a pass on the Ventura 5 and returned it 69 yards deep into COC territory.

Two plays later, Kelly followed with a 19-yard TD run that pushed the lead to 19-7 with 11:26 to play.

Undaunted, COC again drove deep into VC territory. Hodgson interception was the VC’s third in six minutes.

“It was a wild and crazy fourth quarter,” Mooshagian said. “We talk about the fourth quarter all the time and it paid off. Our guys did a great job in the fourth quarter.

“They’re finding a way to win, like a true champion.”

Joe Curley covers high school, collegiate and professional football for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage of local college sports, follow @vcscolleges on Twitter and Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura College football grabs championship opportunity at Canyons