Jeffris does it all to lead Ventura into CIF-SS Division 9 football semifinals
If the curtain comes down on Jacob Jeffris' football season, he will exit with a command performance.
Jeffris had a career-best night with 403 yards in total offense and accounted for four touchdowns Friday night in leading Ventura over Rancho Mirage, 35-19, in a CIF-Southern Section Division 9 quarterfinal at home.
He departed with a shoulder injury in the closing minutes. His status for Ventura's semifinal road game this Friday against Colony will be determined after an orthopedic doctor's visit and physical therapy this week.
For Ventura (7-4), it will be the program's sixth semifinal appearance in the last 22 years and first since 2014.
More: Here's how area high football teams fared in the quarterfinals
After rushing for 300 or more yards in three of its last five games to reach the quarterfinals, Ventura flipped its offensive scheme with an aerial show.
Jeffris completed 19 of 26 passes for 284 yards and Tyler Woodworth caught nine passes — six for first downs — for 150 yards.
"I told Jacob and our receivers that we were going to rely on them more this week," said Ventura head coach Tim Garcia. "This was the kind of night that we were hoping from Jacob."
The Cougars scored on three of four first-half possessions to grab a 21-13 lead by intermission.
Jeffris, who rushed for 117 yards on 11 carries, scored on runs of 3 and 2 yards and threw a 23-yard TD pass to Tyler Woodworth.
Rancho Mirage (7-4) kept it close with a pair of TD passes from quarterback Ethan Zamora and had a chance to grab the momentum in the opening minutes of the third quarter.
With its first two plays after halftime, Rancho Mirage was on the Ventura 6-yard line. On third down, Zamora completed a 4-yard pass to Hugo Barrios, who rolled into the end zone as he was being tackled. He was ruled to have been stopped inches short of the goal line.
On fourth down, Zamora was sacked for a 4-yard loss by Jonathan Ocheltree.
"Jonathan is quick, explosive and gets on with it," said Garcia of Ocholtree, who also recovered a Rancho Mirage fumble early in the fourth quarter.
Ventura delivered decisive blows on back-to-back possessions.
On the final play of the third quarter, Jeffris broke open for a 71-yard TD run for a 28-13 lead.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Ventura drove 44 yards, scoring on a 5-yard run by Noah McGee for a 35-13 lead.
And that would be the night for Jeffris. With sophomore quarterback Joey Reynoso out with a leg injury, Ventura turned to freshman Joshua Woodworth to finish.
"From what he (Jeffris) has to deal (physically) with on a daily basis," said Garcia, "it is a battle.
"To see a kid deal with more adversity than most others and be successful makes it much more special."
Jeffris has issues with his stomach.
"I just got my meds going to make me feel good," Jeffris said.
The shoulder separation was the third of his football career.
"I don't know how bad it is right now," said Jeffris. "I have high hopes. I will try really hard next week to get back. We'll see how it goes.
"It is sad that I don't know whether I will be there, but I am so happy for all the guys."
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Jeffris does it all to lead Ventura into Division 9 football semifinals
