8th-ranked Ventura out-guns Comets in 1,000-yard game
- Updated: September 30, 2019
Giovanni Herrera scores a defensive touchdown on Saturday night for Palomar. / photo by Hugh Cox
2019 COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL
VENTURA 45, PALOMAR 38
EastCountySports.com staff report
ESCONDIDO – Palomar quarterback Rodney Thompson passed for over 400 yards on Saturday but the Comets fell to visiting eighth-ranked Ventura, 45-38.
The Pirates were making their longest road trip of the season but a 24-17 lead at halftime was the difference. Palomar led by 11 points early.
The Comtes were on the board with their first touchdown just two minutes into the game on a 41-yard pass from quarterback Thompson to Damon Wigand.
Following a Ventura field goal, Palomar found the end zone again to take a 14-3 lead with 5:39 left in the first quarter when Logan Gamble scored on a 6-yard run to cap a 10-play, 75-yard drive.
The Comets kicked a field goal after recovering a fumble in the second when Noah Lopez booted a 22-yarder.
In the fourth quarter, Palomar sophomore Chris Calhoun stripped the ball and Giovanni Herrera scooped it up for a touchdown, as the Comets trailed Ventura 31-24 with a little over 11 minutes to go.
Ventura, however, had a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Kyran Griffin had a 48-yard reception from Thompson to make it 38-31 in favor of Ventura (3-1).
Ventura countered with a 60-yard touchdown run.
Palomar answered with a Thompson-to-Johnny Armentrout touchdown reception for 9-yard score, making it 45-38 Ventura.
Thompson threw for 407 yards, a career-high, as Palomar had 512 offensive yards.
The Comets had 105 rushing yards, with 38 coming from Thompson and 32 coming from Wigand. Daishawn Lee posted 29 rushing yards on seven carries.
On the receiving end, Griffin on 115 yards on six receptions and Armentrout had 114 yards on nine receptions. Wigand had 74 yards on five receptions.
Preston Dennard had three punts on the night with a long of 49 yards and pinned one on the 1-yard line. The pin set up the field position for the defensive touchdown.
Kameron Camp lead the team in tackles with nine and one tackle-for-loss for Palomar, while Kevin McKinzie and Herrera both had seven.
Calhoun recorded six tackles and one tackle-for-loss.
Palomar’s Yusuf Leigh had his second sack in two games with some help from Sid Weddington.
The Comet defense caused three fumbles and recovered all three.
It was not a pretty game with a combined total of seven turnovers and a pair of blocked punts.
The Comets are now 1-3 and will face Grossmont College (0-4) at home on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.
