Football Recap: Rio Mesa Comes Up Short + How To Watch

Rio Mesa had lost five straight on the road dating back to last season, but on Thursday they dropped down to 6-10 to make it six. They had to suffer through a 40-13 loss at the hands of the Ventura Cougars. The Spartans were not able to make up for their loss to the Cougars from their previous meeting back in September of 2024.

As for Ventura, they have been performing well recently as they've won five of their last six games. That's provided a nice bump to their 8-4 record this season. The high-scoring effort was just what they needed considering they were shut out in their previous contest.

Ava Ortman produced another solid effort throwing for 253 yards and five TDs, while also rushing for 89 yards and one touchdown on only seven carries. Her passing game has become a key predictor of Ventura's success: the team is 7-2 when her passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 1-2 otherwise. The Cougars' leading receiver Kaiya Cooke was Ortman's top target yet again, picking up 63 receiving yards and a pair of scores.

Looking ahead, Rio Mesa will be playing at home against Dos Pueblos at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. As for Ventura, they will be taking part in a tournament against Madera at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.