Oxnard Excessive delivered Ventura County’s first CIF-Southern Part soccer championship in 1928.
Ninety-eight years later, the flag soccer workforce carried on a college custom.
Senior quarterback Ryanna Harris threw for 2 touchdowns and returned a punt for an additional rating as Oxnard defeated Palos Verdes 18-12 to win the CIF-SS Division 1 championship on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Huntington Seaside Excessive.
One yr after Westlake fell within the Division 2 closing, Oxnard’s title is the county’s first within the new sport.
“It was a phenomenal night time and we’re coming dwelling champions,” stated Oxnard head coach Mark Cordes.
Trailing 6-0 late within the first half, top-seeded Oxnard scored 18 straight factors to take management.
“All yr lengthy, we’ve given up large performs and so they’ve type of been our kryptonite,” Cordes stated. “Tonight, we bought the large performs and simply type of weathered their offense.”
Harris discovered Nona Moreno for a 10-yard TD move within the closing minute of the half to drag Oxnard even, 6-6, at halftime.
Tied coming into the fourth quarter, Oxnard put collectively a pair of massive performs to seize the title.
Harris returned a punt 65 yards for a rating to present the Yellowjackets a 12-6 lead with 10:30 to play.
“The punt return for a landing was large,” stated Cordes. “That was a momentum shifter.”
Harris’ 65-yard scoring strike to Mariah Tutt put the sport away with 5:56 to play.
“As soon as she will get going north and south, no person can catch her,” Cordes stated of Tutt. “She was capable of pull one in and get into the top zone.”
Harris accomplished 11 of 24 passes for 134 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. Moreno caught eight passes for 54 yards and a TD and Tutt caught two passes for 75 yards and the TD.
Palos Verdes did a superb job on Harris and Oxnard’s operating recreation, limiting the Yellowjackets to minus-1 yard speeding.
“We simply had to usher in an additional blocker and reinforce our fundamentals all yr lengthy, that’s getting the ball out fast,” Cordes stated. “We attempt to make choices inside two or three seconds. Ryanna was capable of get the ball out and try this for us.”
Palos Verdes took a 6-0 lead with 5:56 left within the first quarter on a hook-and-ladder play as Addie Eroen pitched to Ava McGovern for a 25-yard TD.
“We have been capable of regulate actually rapidly on that and preserve them from making any greater performs,” stated Cordes. “We have been capable of flip them over on downs a number of instances and simply type of preserve them from entering into the top zone.”
Kimia Austin had three sacks, Charlee Bernal had an interception and Gizelle Tomasino pulled a team-high eight flags to steer the Oxnard protection.
Cordes retains a four-year-old article that launched highschool flag soccer regionally in his workplace.
“4 years later, we’ve raised that commonplace much more,” Cordes stated. “Now we’re coming dwelling as champions. Now we now have a championship program. No different county workforce can say that.
“It’s actually come full circle for that group.”
Joe Curley covers soccer for The Star. He may be reached at m. For extra protection, comply with @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Fb, Bluesky and TikTok.
This text initially appeared on Ventura County Star: e
