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Pacifica safety Jesse Taylor Jr. knocks the ball out of the hands of Narbonne receiver Nazarus Williams in the second quarter Friday. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
Coaches always stress the importance of special teams and Oxnard Pacifica pilot Mike Moon had a huge grin after three blocked punts played a vital role in his team’s 37-20 victory over Narbonne on Friday night in the CIF Southern California Regional Division 2-AA bowl game in Oxnard.
The Tritons (11-4) advance to the state bowl game next Friday at 4 p.m. against Sacramento Grant at Saddleback College.
“Our special teams early in the year, especially against Inglewood, was atrocious and there’s no reason for it because we practice it so much,” Moon said. “We watched film of Narbonne and thought we could take advantage of that.”
Anthony Macias knifed through the line to block a punt at the goal line and Max Magana recovered the ball in the end zone to give Pacifica a 14-6 lead late in the first quarter. On its next possession, Narbonne was forced to punt from its own 25 and this time Deon Hasley got the block. Magana pounced on the loose ball at the 22 and four plays later Isaac Magana kicked a 32-yard field goal to put the home team ahead 17-6.
“Coach Moon takes pride in special teams and so when I saw them on the floor I had to pick them up,” said Max Magana, a nickel back who also had five pass breakups on defense. “I like when I’m tested in the secondary. Now we have to keep our foot on the pedal and make sure that we win next week.”
Narbonne pulled to within 17-14 on Jamari Todd’s five-yard touchdown run and Jaden O’Neal’s conversion run, but Pacifica marched 66 yards in 12 plays and Isaac Magana booted his second field goal — a 23-yarder — as time expired and the Tritons took a 20-14 lead into halftime.
Narbonne…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/oxnard-pacifica-advances-division-2-082246994.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-12-07 08:22:00
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