Vc Loses To Riverside In Playoff Opener

RIVERSIDE — The contrast of entering Southern California's four-team playoff as the No. 8-ranked team wasn't lost on the Ventura College football team.Underneath the obvious goal of winning a state championship bubbled a simpler, less glorious desire for the SCFA Northern Conference champion."I feel like we proved we belonged," coach Steve Mooshagian said.Twice threatening to climb out of big holes, the Pirates pushed top-seeded Riverside deep into the fourth quarter during their 51-37 loss in the SCFA semifinals Saturday night at Wheelock Stadium."We proved we could play with the big boys," Mooshagian said.