Rio Mesa Leaves Oxnard Out in the Cold

Oxnard High’s late-season run at the playoffs ended on a chilly Friday night as the Yellowjackets dropped a 21-18 Channel League decision to host Rio Mesa in the final minutes.

Now it is the Spartans who are alive for a Division II wild-card berth. The win was especially sweet for Rio Mesa quarterback Andy Contreras, who threw a last-second interception in a 14-10 loss to Buena last week.

This time Contreras completed two clutch passes to lead his team to the winning touchdown with 2 minutes 39 seconds remaining.

“I just told the guys that we had plenty of time and that we could do it,” said Contreras, who completed six of 15 passes for 105 yards.

Rio Mesa’s Gordy Abellera ran for the decisive touchdown, capping a performance in which he carried 27 times for 111 yards. Oxnard’s Lloyd Mix rushed 26 times for 117 yards.

Rio Mesa (7-3, 4-3 in league play) scored first after fielding a short punt near midfield. Contreras passed to Swanson Nunnery for 37 yards, and, four plays later, Stan Monroy dived over from the one to give Rio Mesa a 7-0 lead.

The lead grew to 10-0 in the second quarter after Mix fumbled and the Spartans recovered deep in Oxnard territory. McLane Hansen kicked a 30-yard field goal.

But Rio Mesa botched a golden opportunity shortly thereafter. A long punt return by Nunnery was nullified by a holding penalty. Oxnard (6-4, 3-4) got the ball back and made the Spartans pay.

Mix ran for gains of 13, 10 and 29 yards, leading to a one-yard Larry Bumpus touchdown run. After a failed two-point conversion, the score was 10-6.

Hansen kicked a 33-yard field goal just before halftime to give Rio Mesa a 13-6 lead.

“We just came up a little short,” said Oxnard Coach Jack Davis, whose team had won two in a row and had a chance to secure its first playoff berth since 1986.