JC FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Gee’s 193 Yards Help Ventura to 1st Victory

Mike Gee could not contain his glee after leading Ventura College to its first win, a 24-18 decision over host Santa Barbara City on Saturday night in a Western State Conference game.

Gee rushed for 193 yards and one touchdown in 27 carries, 36 yards coming on the Pirates’ final possession as they milked nearly six minutes and broke an eight-game losing streak.

“I felt good going into the game,” Gee said. “We knew we could move the ball.”

Ventura (1-7, 1-6 in conference play, 1-2 in division play) went ahead, 24-0, after three quarters but had to hold off an 18-point Vaquero comeback.

An interception and 25-yard return by Jason Ybarra gave the Pirates the ball at the three and Gee smashed in from there to make it 10-0 in the first quarter.

Kevin Henderson of Santa Barbara (4-4, 3-4, 1-2) fumbled with 1 minute 31 seconds remaining in the first half and Ventura’s Jason Griffith recovered at the Pirate 39. A 15-yard completion from Alan Sedacca to Charles Thompson and a 45-yard run by Gee set up Ray Skeete’s one-yard dive to make it 17-0.

Vince Lampkin turned a screen pass into a 47-yard touchdown in the third quarter for Ventura’s final score.