Tritons’ State Championship Bid Falls Short Against High-Powered Central East Offense
Oxnard Pacifica entered Saturday’s CIF State 1-A Bowl game with a burning desire for redemption. Having suffered a defeat in last season’s 2-AA state final against Sacramento Grant, the Tritons were eager to turn the tide against Fresno Central East in what was anticipated to be one of the weekend’s most electrifying matchups.
The game indeed lived up to its billing as a showcase of two explosive offenses. However, for every spectacular play the Tritons managed to execute, Central East had an equally potent answer. Ultimately, Pacifica was handed its first loss of the season, falling 42-28 in the second of three contests held at Saddleback College.
“You’ve got to win on third down, and we weren’t able to do that,” lamented Pacifica coach Mike Moon. “Their offense is incredibly difficult to stop. We believed we could match their scoring pace, but we fell short. We aimed to play at a high tempo, and that didn’t materialize as planned.”
Pacifica drew first blood, orchestrating a meticulous 91-yard drive spanning 12 plays. The scoring drive was capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Lee to Tyler Stewart with 3:21 remaining in the first quarter. The North region champions had punted on their first three possessions and turned the ball over on downs on their fourth. However, they managed to knot the score at 14-14 with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jelani Dippel to Bayon Harris, concluding an eight-play, 78-yard drive with 5:43 left in the second quarter.
After forcing a punt, Central East embarked on an 82-yard, 10-play march downfield, seizing a 14-7 lead on Brandon Smith’s two-yard touchdown run just 1:05 before the halftime whistle.
The Tritons received the second-half kickoff and responded with a 71-yard, seven-play drive that evened the score at 14-14. Isaiah Phelps punched it in from one yard out, followed by a successful extra point from David Carranza.
Central East then advanced deep into Pacifica territory on their subsequent possession. However, the momentum shifted when Phelps deflected a pass, leading to an interception by PeeWee Wilson at the Tritons’ 24-yard line. Despite the turnover, Pacifica (15-1) was forced to punt. On their next possession, Central East reclaimed the lead on Smith’s four-yard touchdown run with 4:03 left in the third quarter. They then extended their advantage to 28-14 with Dippel’s state-leading 58th touchdown pass of the season – a 34-yard strike to Kevin Cooks.
“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Moon added. “They made the crucial plays when they needed to, and we didn’t. It’s as simple as that.”
Lee connected with Alijah Royster for a 74-yard gain, placing the ball at Central East’s 4-yard line. Phelps then powered his way into the end zone on the very next play, narrowing the Tritons’ deficit to 28-21 with 10:20 remaining in the game.
However, the Bengals (14-1) quickly capitalized on a Pacifica fumble recovered at the 18-yard line. They needed just two plays to score, with Dippel keeping the ball for a five-yard keeper. Royster’s 12-yard touchdown reception brought the score to 35-28 with 6:25 left. Smith then sealed the victory with his third touchdown of the game, a 15-yard scamper, with just 3:21 remaining on the clock.
This season’s journey for Pacifica included a decisive 20-10 victory over Palos Verdes on November 28, securing the Southern Section Division 3 title and their second consecutive CIF crown under Coach Moon. The previous year, the Tritons triumphed over St. Bonaventure in the CIF-SS Division 4 final. Their impressive run also includes the 2-A division championship in 2019, achieved by routing Oakland McClymonds in the state bowl at Cerritos College.
Fresno Central East, on the other hand, had lost to Huntington Beach Edison in the state 1-A bowl last year, also held at Saddleback.
Individually, Taylor Lee completed 21 of his 31 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s contest. However, he was also intercepted twice and sacked three times. Isaiah Phelps was a workhorse in the run game, accumulating 127 yards on 23 carries. Royster was a primary target, catching six passes for 114 yards, while Stewart added seven receptions for 93 yards.
Over the past two seasons, Pacifica has competed in 32 games, amassing two section titles and two regional crowns. Yet, the ultimate prize – a state championship – continues to elude them.
“It’s been a long two years without a state championship… but we’ll aim to get back next year,” stated Moon, who has already scheduled challenging nonleague games against Sierra Canyon and San Diego Lincoln for the upcoming fall season. “This is an exceptional group of seniors, and the younger players will undoubtedly learn and grow from this experience.”