Freshman Back Tyler Carries Oaks Christian to Championship

Freshman Marc Tyler rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns in 12 carries to help Westlake Village Oaks Christian to a 21-16 victory over Oak Park in the Southern Section Division XI title game Saturday at Simi Valley Royal High.

Tyler, the son of former UCLA and NFL running back Wendell Tyler, scored on runs of three and six yards as Oaks Christian (12-2) won its first section title in its third season playing at the varsity level.

Tyler’s second touchdown gave the Lions a 21-10 lead with 8:46 left in the third quarter, but Oaks Christian missed a golden opportunity to extend its advantage to 28-10 when Tyler fumbled the ball away as he was a foot short of reaching the Oak Park end zone two minutes later.

Oak Park (12-2), which defeated Oaks Christian, 27-24, in its final Tri-Valley League game of the regular season, narrowed its deficit to 21-16 when Mike Christensen scored on a two-yard run with 6:05 left in the fourth quarter.

Oak Park had a first down on the Oaks Christian 15-yard line after recovering a fumble by Aaron Ware, but Eagle running back Anthony Monteleone fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Lions’ Marshall Jones at the two-yard line with 2:55 remaining.

Quarterback Nolan McNair completed 13 of 27 passes for 191 yards for Oak Park, which was playing in its first section title game. The Eagles led, 10-7, at halftime after Greg Curtis scored on a 51-yard interception return in the first quarter and McNair kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired in the second.

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-- John Ortega