Palmore Rescues Oxnard

Senior safety Courtney Palmore intercepted a pass with 25 seconds to play, allowing heavily favored Oxnard High to escape with a 14-14 tie with San Marcos in a Channel League game Friday night at Oxnard.

Palmore’s interception stopped a San Marcos drive at the Yellowjacket 15-yard line. The Royals (1-5-1, 0-3-1 in league) began the last drive at their 48.

Oxnard (5-0-2, 3-0-1) had to scramble even for the tie. The Yellowjackets pulled even only after tailback Desmond Davis scored on a five-yard run and then ran for a two-point conversion with 54 seconds left.

Davis rushed six times for 63 yards on Oxnard’s game-tying drive, which began with just under three minutes left.

Oxnard lost two fumbles earlier in the fourth quarter. One was lost by Davis at the San Marcos 15 to open the quarter, and the other came on a botched handoff at the Royals’ 30 with 4 minutes 30 seconds remaining.

Davis, who came on strong in the second half to finish with 136 yards in 21 carries, was limited to six yards in seven carries in the first half.

Chad Pierson gained 34 yards in six carries and Palmore scored Oxnard’s first touchdown on a 60-yard run 56 seconds before halftime.

San Marcos had taken a 14-0 lead on a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt and a 27-yard yard halfback pass from Reuben Zuniga to Dustin Allano.

Van Pelt completed nine of 12 passes for 103 yards with one interception.

Oxnard quarterback Bryan Spencer completed three of nine for 23 yards.

Oxnard managed only 192 total yards and allowed 261.