The Ventura College football team's late rally fell short for the second straight week, 17-14, Saturday night in its opening SCFA Northern Conference game at Glendale College.

Down 17-0 in the third quarter, running back Semaj Washington had a 1-yard touchdown run and running back Michael Lee broke a 56-yard touchdown run to pull within three points with 8:14 to play.

But the Pirates did not earn a first down with their two final possessions.

Lee rushed for 109 yards on 15 carries.

Ventura outgained its opponent for the fifth straight game, 416 to 379, but is 3-2.

Quarterback Lee Mondol finished 16 of 30 for 253 yards and two interceptions.

"I don¹t know what happened," said Ventura coach Jon Mack. "We¹ll look at everything and go back to work."

The Ventura College football team suffered its first defeat, 18-13 at Cerritos Saturday, in quarterback Lee Mondol's 11 starts over two seasons.

But it doesn't mean Mondol played poorly. The Ventura High product continues to lead all Southern California quarterbacks with more than 10 attempts this season with a 200.3 quarterback rating.

"He's a great player," said Ventura coach Jon Mack of Mondol's performance Saturday. "He played the way we expected him to play."

Mondol has completed 65 of 88 passes for 861 yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. He has completed 73.1 percent of his passes.

Through three games, the Ventura College football team has been dominant in the air.

Offensively, QB Lee Mondol (33-of-47 passing, 575 yards 11 TDs, 1 int.) is leading Southern California in passing efficiency at 246.0.

Defensive, the Pirates are also leading Southern California in defensive passing efficiency. Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 44 of 95 passes for 376 yards, no touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

The VC secondary features safeties Dakota Holland (Moorpark High) and Travaun Nixon (Hueneme High), as well as cornerbacks Byron Sells (Westlake High), James Jackson (Oxnard High) and BK Wilkinson.

"The Big Game" is quickly turning into a farce.

RB Michael Lee cashed in Santa Barbara fumble and QB Lee Mondol added the two-point conversion to push the lead to 15-0 with 6:13 left in the first quarter. TE Tyler Whitcomb cashed in another Santa Barbara fumble with a TD reception from Mondol for a 22-0 lead. Lee cashed in A THIRD Santa Barbara fumble from 1 yard out.

Ventura has scored 28 points, while Santa Barbara has managed to run a single play from scrimmage, fumbling on that one play and on two subsequent kickoffs.

Sophomore receiver Tim Pope caught two more passes as the Ventura College football team improved to 2-0 with a 35-7 home win over Antelope Valley College at Larrabee Stadium.

All three phases of the game had a hand in scoring for the 2-0 Pirates.

QB Lee Mondol threw scoring strikes of 28 and 50 yards to Pope and RB Michael Lee leaped into the end zone with a 1-yard run. Freshman defensive back Travaun Nixon returned a fumble 41 yards for a TD. VC actually opened the scoring with a 2-yard end around by WR Patrick Herbert, after Herbert returned a blocked punt 22 yards to the Antelope Valley 2.

VAN NUYS -- QB Lee Mondol improved to 8-0 as a starter as Ventura College beat up Los Angeles Valley, 48-3, Saturday night.

Mondol had a hand in six of the Pirates seven touchdowns, throwing for five and running for one. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 226 yards and one interception.

It was barely enough for head coach Jon Mack.

"Lee did what we expect him to do," said Mack.

(Unofficial box score on the jump.)

Click below for an advanced look at my preview capsules for Week 1 of the community college football season:

Ventura College offensive coordinator Tim Gutierrez was obviously unhappy with the Pirates' performance in the scrimmage against Cal Lutheran today.

Ventura's first and second offensive groups did not get into the end zone against the NCAA Division III opposition.

"Our play was below expectations," said Gutierrez. "I think it's just a matter of our guys playing together."

Ventura returns sophomore Lee Mondol, who played so well in the second half of last season, at quarterback.

"The quarterback has to do a better job of managing the football game," said Gutierrez.

To be fair, Mondol was missing perhaps three top targets -- playmaking receiver Tim Pope (toe infection), speedster Donovan Estes (hamstring) and converted defensive back B.J. Washington (shoulder).

But the high level of both competition and expectations this season leave no room for excuses.

"Expectations are really high this year," said Gutierrez. "These guys need to know they have to play with a sense of urgency. They didn't do that today.

"When you have the horses we do, there's no reason not to have any points on the board."

Both Moorpark College and Ventura College are coming off Western State Conference championship seasons.

Making its first bowl appearance in eight years, Ventura (8-3) scored 15 points during a three-minute span in the fourth quarter to upend Palomar, 39-35, in the Southern California Bowl.

Aided by Chris Golder's blocked punt, quarterback Lee Mondol found receiver Ricky Garcia for touchdowns twice in the final 6:24 to lift the Pirates.

Here are some Southern California Bowl highlights: