Davis Runs Over Ventura, 29-17

Desmond Davis of Oxnard High, the leading rusher in Ventura County, ran for 191 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Yellowjackets to a 29-17 victory over Ventura in a Channel League game Friday night at Ventura High.

Davis, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound junior tailback, got outside and outran the Ventura defense for touchdowns of 20 and 47 yards, and left tacklers behind on many of his 27 carries.

Oxnard (4-0-1, 2-0 in league), vying for its first league title since 1986, never trailed, holding off Ventura’s attempts to remain close during a seesaw first half and recording the game’s only second-half score on Davis’ longest run of the game early in the fourth quarter.

“The line just opens holes and I just bust through,” Davis said. “We’ve got all kinds of quickness on this team.”

Oxnard’s speed on offense and defense was apparent. Senior Courtney Palmore made several tackles from his free safety position.

“The speed definitely is an advantage,” said Wesley Morimune, Oxnard coach. “We knew they were going to be prepared for us. They kept us bottled up for awhile.”

The Yellowjackets used a bit of deception to establish their advantage.

Oxnard grabbed a 7-0 first-quarter lead when Patrick Austin took an end-around handoff and threw long to a wide-open Ross Randolph, who gathered the pass at the 25-yard line and trotted into the end zone to complete a 57-yard touchdown play.

Ventura (3-2, 1-1) remained close, matching Oxnard’s first two touchdowns with scoring runs of 14 and 10 yards by quarterback Mike Anderson to pull even, 14-14, early in the second quarter.

But Oxnard assumed a permanent lead on Davis’ first touchdown run that capped a 66-yard drive. Oxnard added a two-point conversion when holder Eric Swanger rolled out and threw to an unguarded Chad Pierson in the end zone for a 22-14 lead.

Ventura’s Jeff Collins booted a 20-yard field goal late in the half to close the gap to 22-17.

A bright spot for Ventura was tailback Jeramie Jackson, who rushed for 132 yards in 15 carries. He also caught three passes for 22 yards.

Anderson completed nine of 33 passes for 104 yards. He rushed for 38 yards in six carries.