Another all-Oxnard football thriller came down to the wire.
For the second week in a row, it was Oxnard High senior Nicholas Shannon who stole the show.
Shannon scored a touchdown in each overtime period and made a diving grab to stave off defeat on a 2-point conversion try in the first OT as the Yellowjackets defeated visiting Del Sol 30-28 in a double overtime on Friday, Sept. 12.
“It was a one-handed, highlight catch,” Oxnard head coach Lonnie McCowan said of Shannon's 2-point pick. “It was crazy.”
But it was Oxnard offensive lineman Donovan Fernadez who made the game-saving play of the game.
The sophomore fell on Shannon’s fumble into the end zone on the Oxnard 2-point try in the second
OT. The Jaguars’ pass towards the end zone on their own 2-point attempt fell incomplete.
Del Sol running backs Isaiah Flores (36 carries, 181 yards, three TDs) and Hector Villasenor (18 carries, 69 yards, TD) had one rushing TD apiece in OT, with Villasenor also punching in the successful 2-point try in the first OT.
“Before every drive, I told the offensive staff, ‘If we score here, we are going for two,’ ” Del Sol head coach James Nelson said. “We are going for the win. We are going to force them to play our game.”
That strategy worked for Del Sol until a costly penalty in the second overtime for celebrating pushed its 2-point conversion try back to the 18-yard line, forcing the Jaguars to attempt a pass to score.
“I tell the boys, ‘Be prepared for every week to be a dogfight,’ ” Nelson said. “It has been.”
Del Sol linebacker Issac Guerra-Flores had 12 total tackles, five tackles for a loss and a sack. Cazares and Anthony Perez each had an interception, while Villasenor and Anthony Hernandez forced fumbles. Hernandez also recovered a fumble.
Shannon helped the Yellowjackets rally from a 20-0 third-quarter deficit to beat Hueneme 28-26 on Sept. 4.
Oxnard (2-2) will have a bye week before playing at Rio Mesa on Sept. 25. Del Sol (1-3) will play at Royal this Friday.
Fillmore 62, Grace 34
The Flashes amassed a school-record 62 points in a win that was also the most combined points (96) in a game in the program’s 103-year history.
“This was the culmination of four weeks of work,” Fillmore head coach Charlie Weis said. “We came out on fire this week.”
Quarterback Nate Perez completed 10 of 15 passes for 294 yards and four TDs, each to a different receiver, while running back Micah Harm carried the ball 15 times for 148 yards and three scores.
Receivers Andrew Estrada (three catches, 108 yards), Saul Fraga (three catches, 75 yards), Stephen Torres (three catches, 67 yards) and Rocky McDowell (one catch, 38 yards) each had TD receptions for the Flashes.
The Lancers leaned on their passing game with starting running back Owen O’Neal getting injured in the game. Quarterback Riley Williams threw for 418 yards, five TDs and one interception while completing 23 of 48 passes.
Charlie Martinez caught seven passes for 209 yards and three TDs, Donovan Merrill had six catches for 82 yards and a pair of scores and Landon LaSecla had eight catches for 118 yards.
“We were dominated in every facet and phase of the game,” Grace head coach Tom Coate said. “I have got to be a better coach. There is no excuse — we did not execute.”
Sophomore Jace Sergey led the Lancers defense with 11 total tackles. Fillmore’s Stephen Torres returned an interception 48 yards.
The game, played at Moorpark College, was Weis’ first game back in the city since he left the Moorpark High coaching staff for Fillmore in 2019.
Fillmore (2-2) will host Carpinteria while Grace (3-1) will play at Western Christian this Friday.
Nordhoff 24, Santa Paula 17
Defensive back Matthew Ruiz decided the game with an interception on the Nordhoff 2-yard line with 50 seconds left to secure a road victory over the Cardinals.
“He flies across on a drag route and gets the game-winning interception,” Nordhoff head coach Dillon Lowen said. “It was amazing.”
When quarterback Rene Vega was sacked and forced to come out for a play, receiver Isaiah Ramos pulled down a pass from backup quarterback Anthony Rodriguez that was tipped by Ruiz in coverage near the Nordhoff 25-yard line.
“He was an absolute monster,” Lowen said of Ramos. “It was definitely just a mess of a situation. They had a bunch of momentum.”
One week after Michael Dennie broke his own school record for TD passes in a game with seven in a victory over Taft, the senior quarterback helped to win a game with his feet.
Dennie completed 15 for 27 passes for 202 yards, one TD and two interceptions, but carried the ball 21 times for a team-high 156 yards and a TD to help keep Nordhoff (4-0) unbeaten.
“How are you going to respond when stuff is not going your way?” Lowen said. “That kid turned into a running back.”
Senior running back Bret Winters rushed 104 yards and a TD on 22 carries. Cooper Cole caught a TD pass, Isaiah Giesea had six catches for 66 yards and John Verduzco had five receptions for 79 yards.
Nordhoff will play at Beverly Hills while Santa Paula (2-2) will host Littlerock this Friday.
Pacifica 35, Highland 7
The Tritons emerged from a penalty-ridden game on the road with a lopsided victory to improve to 4-0 on the season.
Pacifica was called for 28 penalties in the game, but that didn’t stop it from jumping out to a 21-0 lead thanks to three TD passes from quarterback Taylor Lee and a fumble recovery by the defense.
“A three-hour, 15 minute ride, 90-degree weather, grass field,” Pacifica head coach Mike Moon said. “Unfamiliar territory. We knew it was going to be tough and there were going to be obstacles to overcome. I just loved how the team kept their composure.”
Lee threw for 315 yards and four TDs on 16-for-22 passing.
Will Jones Jr. had three receptions for 77 yards and a pair of TDs, Anthony Jacobs Jr. caught five passes for 85 yards and a score, and Jadiel Santos had three catches for 80 yards and a TD. Isaiah Phelps rushed for 72 yards and a TD on six carries.
“I think we were behind the sticks almost every single series, offensively,” Moon said. “We still were able to score. I think it was good for us.”
Phelps and fellow linebacker PeeWee Wilson dominated on defense.
Phelps had 13 total tackles, including three tackles for loss, while Wilson added 13 total tackles and another three tackles for a loss. Corner Jonathan Feliciano had nine solo tackles and tackles for a loss. Defensive lineman Aaron Salazar had three tackles for a loss and the Tritons’ lone sack.
After a bye week, Pacifica will play a nonleague showdown at Sierra Canyon on Sept. 25.
Central Catholic 28, St. Bonaventure 19
In the second year of a nonleague clash with Modesto power Central Catholic, the Seraphs (3-1) suffered their first loss of the season.
With St. Bonaventure down 14-0 early in the first quarter, Ke’Andre Lee broke off a 59-yard TD run to kickstart the offense.
Quarterback Jaxson Carper was sacked or pressured on countless snaps in the Central Catholic red zone in the second quarter, but the Seraphs got 22-yard and 30-yard field goals from Wyatt Barlow to trail 14-13 at halftime.
After a 45-yard TD run from Central Catholic in the third quarter, Antonio Spann returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a TD. However, the Seraphs did not score the rest of the game.
St. Bonaventure (3-1) will play at Chaminade (4-0) this Friday.
Simi Valley 28, Spanish Springs (Nev.) 6
Running back Sal Villa showed no signs of slowing down in another prolific rushing performance across the Nevada state line.
The state-leading rusher carried the ball 30 times for 227 yards and a pair of TDs to power Simi Valley to a victory in Reno.
Quarterback Connor Petrov completed 17 of 27 passes for 153 yards and two TDs to Micah Hannah (five catches, 87 yards).
Simi Valley (3-1) will play at Palmdale this Friday.
Santa Clara 31, Hollywood 6
After going winless last season in their return to 11-man football, the Saints (4-0) earned their fourth straight win to start this season thanks to a breakout performance from Mickey Ramirez.
The sophomore caught two touchdown passes while playing tight end and recovered a fumble in the end zone as a defensive end.
“We knew he needed to have a big game,” Santa Clara head coach David Cortez said. “I made him one of the captains for the game to show our faith in him. I said, ‘Hey, we need you. The team looks at you as a leader. Go lead them.’ He ended up coming through.”
Kicker Rudy Cerna drilled a field goal from 25 yards in the second quarter for the first score of the game.
The Saints scored two TDs apiece in each of the last two quarters, starting with Ethan Prado blocking a punt that he recovered in the Hollywood end zone for a 10-0 lead in the third quarter.
Santa Clara hosts winless Duarte this Friday.
Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks 48, Oaks Christian 16
Quarterback Cody Bird hit receiver Chase Evans on a 31-yard scoring strike up the left sideline for the first score, but it would be the only lead of the game for the host Lions as they fell to 0-4 on the season.
Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks outscored Oaks Christian 31-9 in the second half.
Kicker Aidan Crecion nailed a 31-yard field goal to make it 17-10 in the third quarter. Bird hit MJ Watson on a 29-yard catch-and-run TD early in the fourth quarter for Oaks Christian.
Bird finished 11-of-24 passing for 160 yards, two TDs and an interception. In addition to his kicking, Crecion had five catches for 71 yards. Evans had four catches for 47 yards and a TD and Watson had two catches for 60 yards and a score.
Alifeleti Tuihalamaka shined for the defense, securing four tackles for a loss and eight total tackles.
Oaks Christian will play at Serra this Friday.
San Marcos 28, Buena 7
The Bulldogs dropped to 0-4 on the season with home loss.
After falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter, Buena senior Jayden Hodgins returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown.
Kaleb Alarcon had an interception and Isaiah Coert and Andrew Bishop each recovered fumbles. Dylan Ragazzo and Carter Aubert led Buena in tackles with 11 and 10, respectively.
Quarterback Ryder Bucy completed 14 of 28 passes for 123 yards and an interception, while Noah Campella rushed for 83 yards on 21 carries.
Buena will host rival Ventura this Friday night.
Taft 42, Channel Islands 14
The Raiders struck first, but couldn’t keep up with Taft as they fell to 0-4 with the home loss.
Junior fullback Jessie Leon scored on a 5-yard TD run to give Channel Islands a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Taft scored six straight TDs spanning the second and third quarters.
The Raiders will host Hueneme this Friday in a matchup of winless teams.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: A double-overtime thriller highlights Friday's Week 3 football games
