Czernek Guides Panthers to Last-Minute Victory

Nick Czernek connected with Cause Hanna for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 34 seconds to play to give Newbury Park High a 27-20 nonleague victory over Oxnard on Friday night at Newbury Park.

With the score tied, 20-20, Newbury Park’s Eric Sanford intercepted a Louis Williams pass on third down at the Oxnard 40-yard line. The play, coupled with an Oxnard penalty, gave the Panthers the ball on the Oxnard 27.

Czernek, who completed 18 of 42 passes for 288 yards, engineered the five-play scoring drive. Czernek had touchdown passes of 21, 10 and 11 yards but also four interceptions.

“It was a roll-out right and I was just patient with the ball and I found Cause open across the field,” Czernek said of the final touchdown pass.

Oxnard (0-2) pulled even, 20-20, on a 16-yard run by Williams midway through the fourth quarter. Williams, who rushed for 92 yards in 13 carries, completed 16 of 38 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown. He had four passes intercepted.

Five interceptions took place in the first half, three by Czernek that were the result of tipped balls.

Wide receiver Tyler Johnson of Newbury Park had five receptions for 106 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown catch that gave Newbury Park a 20-6 lead with 4:19 to play in the third quarter.

Ryan Shipton of Newbury Park had 91 yards in 18 carries.

Williams pulled Oxnard to within 20-13 when he found tight end Jacob Rogers for a nine-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.

Oxnard’s Aaron Neal had four catches for 118 yards.

Saul Aguilar gave Oxnard a 3-0 lead with a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Craig Hundley gave Newbury Park a 7-3 lead with a one-yard run late in the first half. Newbury Park held that lead at the half.