Ventura will play Moorpark in the quarterfinals

After going undefeated five-zero in league play and eight-two over the entire season, Ventura High School got into CIF division six. VHS beat the Salesian High School Mustangs in the first round 42-31. The game started with VHS wide receiver Jack Cunningham ‘26 returning the opening kickoff for a 98 yard touchdown, jumping out to a six-zero lead after the extra point attempt was blocked. The Mustangs then responded with a passing touchdown and a made extra point to take the lead seven-six. Noah Dasnoit ‘29 said, “It was really interesting and got me hyped how we scored on the first play and then they scored again on their first drive.”

On Ventura’s first offensive set of the game, quarterback Derek Garcia ‘26 ran the ball for a 50 plus yard gain, getting the Cougars to the red zone which they capitalized on with a rushing touchdown to give them the lead 13-seven after the made extra point. Salesian responded again with a rushing touchdown of their own, taking the lead 14-13. After getting the ball back by forcing VHS to punt, the Mustangs got their second passing touchdown of the game, increasing their lead to 21-13 with two minutes left in the first quarter. 

Salesian then put up the first points of the second quarter with a field goal, making the score 24-13 and increasing their lead again. Then when VHS was driving down the field with under two minutes left before half, Salesian defender Jayden Manchame ‘27 went down with an injury and was not able to get back up until paramedics put him on a stretcher to take him to the hospital. As Manchame was loaded onto the ambulance, he gave a thumbs up, indicating that he was OK. While team doctors were assessing the injury, Salesian players took a knee and got into a huddle. The Ventura players and coaches on the other hand stayed standing which led to the fans of both teams yelling at the VHS players to take a knee. Taking a knee is considered to be a sign of respect. After the yelling went on VHS head coach Tim Garcia turned to the VHS fans and said, “If you don’t like it, you can go home.”

Hudson Williams ‘29 said, “I was confused why they didn’t take a knee. It was disrespectful because the other team was taking a knee but we weren’t.” 

On the first play after the injury delay, VHS got a passing touchdown and a two point conversion. Ventura got the score within a field goal entering half. 

After a third quarter with no points put up by either team, the fourth started with a passing touchdown giving VHS there first lead since the first. Ventura then got the ball back and scored their second touchdown of the quarter. Salesian got a touchdown in the final minutes of the game but it ended up not affecting the outcome as the Ventura Cougars got the win 42-31, advancing to the next round of CIF.