San Marcos’ running attack was shut down by Nordhoff, and the Royals suffered their first loss of the season, falling 48-7 against the defending CIF Northwest Division champions on Friday night in Ojai.
Esteban Alfaro was held to 24 yards on the ground and the Royals gained just 28 total rushing yards in their final non-league game before Channel League play.
“Nordhoff jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead, helped by our failure to get third down stop,” San Marcos coach Anthony Linebaugh said. “We did not match their physicality. We will work diligently to rectify mistakes and prepare for Ventura.”
The Rangers roared out to 41-0 halftime lead, taking advantage of great field position to score touchdowns on all six possessions while outgaining the Royals 249-yards-to-48.
“I don’t know if I’m as surprised (that we beat them so handily) as I am pleased,” Nordhoff head coach Tony Henney told the Ventura County Star. “I’m glad we put them away early because as I told the team, San Marcos came in here accustomed to winning football games, and if we were to let them hang around, you open Pandora’s Box.”
The Royals are 5-1 while Nordhoff improved to 5-0.
San Marcos senior quarterback Wesley Ghan-Gibson came into the game having completed more than two-thirds of his passes, but Nordhoff held him to 15 of 36 and 114 yards.
Emmett Johnsen recorded a pair of sacks. Linebackers Shane Hersh and Koby Welch combined for 20 tackles, and the secondary made two interceptions.
Nordhoff quarterback Tanner Workman threw for 160 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Austin Wolcott, Brandon Wadsworth and Jake Boyd for scores in the first half. Matt Woodcock ran for a pair of touchdowns from inside the red zone for the other first half scores, and Tayler Livingston — who finished with a game-high 85 yards rushing on 16 carries — recorded the Rangers’ final score of the night on a five-yard carry on the home team’s first possession of the third quarter.
San Marcos’ Garret Paulson returned the ensuing kick off to midfield, and Gibson completed 5 of 8 passes after that, connecting with Cameron Whitney from 14 yards out for the Royals’ only score of the game.
Story includes reports from the Ventura County Star
