Oxx Pulls Reseda to Victory : Football: Senior gains 226 yards in 18 carries to lead Regents past Van Nuys, 15-14.

There was no yoke around the neck of Reseda’s Michael Oxx Friday night as the senior tailback rushed for 226 yards in 18 carries to lead the Regents to a 15-14 Pac-8 victory over Van Nuys.

“I can’t say enough about Michael, he makes all the right decisions,” said Reseda Coach Joel Schaeffer. “I tell him, ‘The first 10 yards are mine to call, after that you can do what you want.’ ”

Schaeffer wanted to kick a 22-yard field goal early in the first quarter, but successive offside penalties against Reseda pushed the ball back to the Reseda 14 before Allonso Arreola’s kick was blocked by Duke Kim.

Van Nuys took a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter when quarterback Chris Byfield rolled right and threw a touchdown pass to Walter Aleman.

Seconds later, Oxx scored on an 80-yard run down the left sideline.

“They were adjusting to me and lining a guy up over me, but we ran the sweep anyway,” Oxx said. “I didn’t think I was going all the way but then I saw a little crack up ahead and went for it.”

The scoreboard had barely accounted for Oxx’s run when Byfield struck again from deep in his own territory. He sprinted left, then weaved his way through traffic and down the sideline for a touchdown to give Van Nuys a 14-6 lead.

Reseda got a 22-yard field goal from Arreola to pull to within 14-9, then seized the lead for good on a four-yard touchdown pass from Matt Rutter to Tony De La Torre.

Van Nuys made a bid for the victory by driving to the Reseda 31 with 1:31 to play, but Federico Arroyo’s 48-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left after a high snap to holder Gilbert Casillas.

“Oh, was I nervous when (Arroyo) lined up for that kick,” Schaeffer said. “I’ve never rooted for anyone to miss a kick so hard in my life.”

Reseda’s Rutter completed four of eight passes for 77 yards. Byfield completed nine of 16 for 75 yards. Each quarterback threw a touchdown and an interception.

Van Nuys’ John McPherson gained 54 yards in 14 carries.

Reseda’s Charles Shells gained 67 yards in 10 carries.