Warriors Clinch League Title with Thrilling Comeback Victory in Overtime

TORRANCE, Calif. --- For the first time since 2018, El Camino College is headed to the Southern California Football Association postseason after clinching the National Northern League title with a thrilling 45-38 win over Ventura in overtime on Saturday night at Featherstone Field in Murdock Stadium.

The Warriors overcame a 21-point second-half deficit on Saturday night to force the game into overtime and then prevailed in the first extra period.

Jaden Moore had a career-night, posting new highs in carries (32) and rushing yards (182) along with four rushing touchdowns including the game-winning TD in overtime.

Hunter Herrera finished the night 11-of-18 for 145 yards and two touchdowns while the defense had numerous standouts with Kaleb McCutcheon leading the way with 11 tackles. Brett James had eight tackles and one interception while Emilio Gutierrez added a pick of his own with five tackles and Elijah Brown shut down the passing game with four pass breakups along with seven tackles and a critical forced fumble and recovery.

Brown had two critical defensive plays in overtime including stepping in front of a pass intended for Tyler Woodworth in the end zone on third down.

The Pirates put the Warriors in a tough spot early, scoring 17 points in the second quarter and then a touchdown on the first drive of the second half to put ECC in a 31-10 hole with 7:13 left in the period.

A quick scoring drive by the Warriors to answer the TD made it 31-17 Ventura and then the Warriors caught a big break as a 12-play, 62-yard drive by the Pirates that ate up 5:50 ended with no points for the visitors as Ryan Pimentel missed his second field goal of the day, a 30-yard attempt, to give the Warriors back the ball down by just two possessions.

The Warriors capitalized, putting together an 8-play, 80-yard drive in just 2:43 to pull within seven points as Moore capped the drive with an 18-yard rushing TD, his second score of the night.

On the ensuing Pirates drive, the Warriors defense stepped up as Pirates quarterback Daniel Duran found Quran Gossett for a short completion, but Brown stood up Gossett and then stripped the ball and fell on the fumble at the Ventura 37.

The Warriors needed just three plays to complete the comeback as Herrera connected with Mark Baker on a spectacular leaping catch to knot the game up at 31-31.

The onslaught continued on the next Pirates drive as James picked off Duran at the Warriors' 40 with 8:26 left in regulation.

Again, the Warriors capitalized as they put together a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive capped off by Moore's third touchdown of the night to give ECC its first lead of the game at 38-31.

The Pirates would not go quietly however as they used all but five seconds of the time left in regulation to tie the game up at 38 all, converting on two fourth-down plays including a 4th-and-19 from their own 28.

The Warriors would get the ball first in overtime and got another TD from Moore; a three-yard rush into the end zone to take the lead at 45-38.

Ventura would convert on one fourth down play but, facing 4th-and-Goal from the four, the Warriors defense smothered the Pirates receivers and Duran's 59th pass attempt of the night sailed high and over the end-zone to secure the win for the Warriors and their first league title since 2018.

Saturday's win for the Warriors also breaks a six-game losing streak against Ventura dating back to 2011. The last win for ECC over the Pirates came on Nov. 13, 2010 at Ventura.

The Warriors will wrap up the 2024 regular season on Nov. 16 when they travel to Allan Hancock.