Ventura closes "Dore" on Dos Pueblos

BY PETER DUGRE
DAILY SOUND SPORTS WRITER

It took overtime to determine a victor. It took only one play from scrimmage in the first quarter for the Ventura Cougars to foreshadow how they would do it.
On the Cougars’ first play, running back Brandon Dore broke a trap up the middle for a 65 yard score. The extra point put the Cougars up 7-0 with nine minutes remaining in the opening quarter. On their last play, Dore ran it in from 16 yards out to end the game 28-21.

There were no tricks in the Cougars game plan. They would hand the ball to Gore often, and they executed. Gore ran the ball 29 times for 264 yards and all four of the Cougars’ touchdowns.
The Dos Pueblos Chargers escaped the first half with the score even 14 to 14 thanks to some big defensive plays. Aki Franklin’s pass deflection at the goal line prevented the Cougars from going up 14-0 early in the second quarter.
Franklin’s play forced the Cougars to turn the ball over on downs. From there, the Chargers started at their own 16. The speedy Dane Limosnero carried the ball 69 yards on the next play and put the Chargers in position to score. Ronnie Arias pounded the ball in from one yard out to finish off the drive and even the score 7-7.
Dore and the Cougars quickly answered when he scored on a three yard blast after taking it 28 yards on the previous play.
The Chargers regained possession with 4 minutes remaining in the half. That was ample time for quarterback Andy Braun to manage a successful drive with four completions, the last on a 11 yard touchdown to Zach Beasley.
After not having to punt in the first half, the Cougars traded punts with Chargers to open the third quarter. It appeared that the Chargers may have found an answer for Dore.
The Cougars then benefited from a Chargers’ face mask penalty for fifteen yards. Dore then got his grove back and carried on six consecutive possessions beginning at the 32 yard line to put the Cougars up 21-14 with 1:50 left in the third.
Limosnero then did what he does best as he skipped through some traffic before finding room to turn it up field and sprint in from 46 yards out to even the score early in the fourth quarter. Limosnero gained 155 yards on only 10 carries.
When asked why Limosnero does not get more carries, coach Jeff Uyesaka said, “He gets tired. He gets excited. We use him until he is no longer effective, and then we change things up.”
Line Backer Aaron Parsons played a big role in stifling the Cougars’ final attempt at scoring, as he shadowed Dore. The Cougars again turned the ball over on downs giving Braun and the Chargers 1:26 to try and finish the game in regulation.
After pushing the ball across midfield the Chargers were penalized ten yard for holding. Braun then kept on second down from the Cougars 37 but suffered a minor injury to his hand.
With thirty seconds left the Cougars decided to try a 49 yard field goal on third down. It fell well short.
Coach Uyesaka said that they did not feel like they would have been able to get off a play and then set up for a field goal without Braun in.
The overtime was short. The Chargers could not answer Dore’s touchdown. They attempted a couple of trick passes from wide receiver Derek Martinez but could not match the touchdown.
The victory was the first of the season for the Cougars, who spoiled the Chargers’ homecoming. Now the Chargers stand at 4-3.