No. 4 Canyons Falls 54-48 to No. 13 Ventura in Offensive Showcase

In a game that would leave defensive purists mortified, No. 4 College of the Canyons and No. 9 Ventura College treated fans in attendance to a back-and-forth offensive shootout, with COC ultimately coming up short in a 54-48 loss on Halloween.

Combined, COC and Ventura racked up a total of 1,148 yards of offense, with both teams averaging about seven yards per offensive snap.

Scoring came early and often throughout the contest.

Ventura opened things up by taking an early 7-0 lead on its first drive of the game. 

The Cougars then responded on their next drive as running back Kenny Torrence capped off a nine-play 90-yard drive with a two-yard run. An Alec Chadwick extra point tied the game at 7-7.

However, Ventura managed to pull ahead 14-7 by the end of the first quarter.

The Pirates then held a 21-7 lead in the second quarter until Torrence scored on another short yardage play to cap off a six-play, 75-yard COC drive with a one-yard touchdown run. An extra point left the Cougars trailing 21-14.

Later, Ventura and COC traded field goals as the Pirates managed to hang on at 24-17.

Chadwick then booted a 48-yard field goal – his longest of the season – to bring the Cougars within four points at 24-20.

Ventura added another field goal of its own to take a 27-20 lead into halftime.

In the second half, head coach Ted Iacenda's club came out and quickly got back on the scoreboard.

In the third quarter, Torrence scored his third touchdown of the day, on another goal line plunge from Ventura's one-yard line. Another Chadwick extra point tied the game at 27-27.

Torrence finished the game with those three touchdowns to go along with 63 yards rushing on 20 carries.

Despite the score, the Cougars were soon playing catch up again, after Ventura amassed a 41-27 lead headed into the fourth quarter. 

Just 10 seconds into the final period, however, COC quarterback Devon Dunn connected with wide receiver Connor Byrnes on a five-yard scoring reception. The play culminated a punishing 13-play, 75-yard drive that spanned more than five minutes.

On the very next kickoff, the Cougars' David Wilder recovered a fumble by Ventura returner Rona Washington at the Ventura 43-yard line giving Canyons a short field to try and mount a comeback.

Torrence started the drive with a 24-yard run to move the Cougars deep into Pirate territory. Moments later Dunn found wide receiver Chauncey Werah for a seven-yard score with the PAT making it a 41-41 affair.

After holding Ventura to a rare three and out, the Cougars clawed ahead after Dunn completed a 59-yard touchdown pass to Werah. It was Dunn's third scoring toss of the game and Werah's second TD reception.

Another Chadwick extra point, and COC took the lead for the first time at 48-41.

Dunn finished the game completing 29-of-43 passes for a season high 468 yards passing.

Unfortunately for the Cougars their lead would be brief, as Ventura was able to quickly march 75 yards down the field to tie the game once again, at 48-48.

COC made its way back into Ventura territory late in the game, but couldn't come away with any points after having a field goal attempt blocked with under five minutes to play.

The Pirates regained the lead once more, compliments of another 75-yard scoring drive, but couldn't execute the PAT, leaving the Cougars with an open window at 54-48.

Canyons began its final possession on its own 26-yard line with 1:19 left in the fourth quarter. But after a Pirate sack on first down, Dunn was forced from the game. 

COC quarterback Matthew Moore then entered the game, but wasn't able to get much going as the final seconds ticked down.

The loss puts COC's record at 6-2 overall and at 3-1 against conference opponents.

The Cougars will next host Moorpark College in the final regular season home game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7.