Oxnard Pacifica was in uncharted waters, deep in a battle of the low-scoring selection that the Tritons — who averaged 42.9 factors per recreation this season — typically averted.
Palos Verdes was up for it. On their dwelling turf — with stadium lights rented for the night time’s event — the Sea Kings held a late lead after trusty kicker Niko Dragin linked from 28 yards with 9:44 remaining within the fourth quarter.
Tritons quarterback Taylor Lee didn’t have to carry his breath for lengthy. The junior lastly received considered one of his passes to drop into the arms of a receiver on a four-play, 61-yard drivethat made Pacifica the Southern Part champion for the second consecutive season, the Tritons defeating Palos Verdes 20-10 on Friday night time for the Division 3 crown.
Lee, hit on the helmet as he launched the move, didn’t see the ball land within the arms of sophomore broad receiver Will Jones Jr. As a substitute, the junior who recorded 172 passing yards and two touchdowns, simply heard the gang roar.
“Seeing him [score] was just like, such a relief,” Lee stated. “And just seeing all the crowd cheering — amazing.”
Stated Jones, who completed with 92 yards on two receptions: “I got my team over anybody.”
Oxnard Pacifica quarterback Taylor Lee rolls to hit proper as he seems to be downfield for a receiver in the course of the Southern Part Division 3 championship recreation in opposition to Palos Verdes on Friday night time.
(Nick Koza)
Friday was purported to be a battle between Lee, who already eclipsed 3,000 yards, and Palos Verdes junior quarterback Ryan Rakowski. Final week within the Division 3 semifinal in opposition to Edison, Rakowski dove for a fumbled ball, trapping and breaking his proper thumb within the course of.
Rakowski, a real dual-threat signal-caller, advised The Instances that the damaged thumb ended his season and a six-week restoration awaited. In his absence, longtime Palos Verdes coach Man Gardner tossed apart the passing recreation nearly totally and trusted a wildcat offense to maintain the Sea Kings in it.
Milking the clock — the alternative of the Tritons’ no-huddle offense — senior operating again Dominik Hernando put his physique on the road for each yard, tallying 102 yards in 22 carries. On one run within the third quarter, Hernando barreled to the bottom after a 10-yard achieve — writhing in ache , forcing an harm timeout.
Seconds later Hernando popped up and pushed ahead to proceed taking part in. Battling tears after the sport, he thanked Gardner for making him “a man,” serving to develop him by way of self-described “behavioral issues” after he transferred into this system as a junior.
Oxnard Pacifica Excessive coach Mike Moon shouts directions to his gamers from sideline throughout a victory over Palos Verdes on Friday night time.
(Nick Koza)
“I’m willing to give everything to my team, especially because of the brotherhood that we have, it pushes all of us to give everything that we have and to fight for every yard,” Hernando stated.
Palos Verdes had its possibilities. A 3rd and one from the one-yard line that changed into a missed area aim after a false begin stunted the red-zone alternative. The Sea Kings ultimately pushed into Tritons territory with lower than three minutes to go however turned the ball over on downs.
For Pacifica coach Mike Moon — who claimed the Division 4 title final 12 months — Friday examined the bounds of his workforce.
In the end, it took a move to land — Lee’s strike sealing the Tritons’ title destiny greater than 50 miles from dwelling.
“Twenty points is not what we’re used to,” Moon stated. “But it turned out great in the end.”
