San Marcos edges Ventura in a thriller to secure automatic playoff berth

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Repeat after me! San Marcos High School beat Ventura for a second straight day to claim third place in the Channel League and the final automatic playoff berth.

Scarlett Holian punched the Royals postseason ticket with an interception near the goal line on a Cougars Hail Mary pass with no time on the clock as San Marcos edged Ventura 13-12 in a third place tiebreaker. San Marcos shutout the Cougars on Tuesday to force a playoff play-in game.

Ventura jumped out to a 12-0 lead over the Royals on two touchdown passes from Mya Rodriguez. A 47-yard bomb to freshman Piper Limauro made it 6-0 in the first quarter. The Cougars doubled the lead on a 7-yard touchdown catch by Kailey Champion early in the second quarter.

The Royals cut the deficit to 12-7 late in the first half as Victoria Aldana tossed a short touchdown pass to Piper Kittle and Aldana ran in the point after.

(Sophomore Piper Kittle had a monster game with 17 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. Entenza Design).

It was still 12-7 early in the fourth quarter when the Royals grabbed the lead when Aldana connected with Mya Llewellyn on a 4-yard touchdown.

(Junior Victoria Aldana finished with over 200 yards passing with two touchdowns and she ran for an extra point. Entenza Design).

The Cougars almost pulled out the victory as Rodriguez ran for what have been a 20-yard touchdown with no time on the clock but they were flagged for a penalty in the backfield.

Ventura got one untimed down on the Royals 29-yard line but the long desperation pass was snared by the sophomore Holian which set off a celebration on the San Marcos sideline.

The Royals finish the regular season at 15-9 and await the CIF-Southern Section playoff announcement on Friday. Ventura is 17-12 and will likely receive an at-large berth to the playoffs.