Junior running back Roy Oto ran for a 26-yard touchdown with a little more than two minutes remaining to give Channel Islands a 17-14 non-league football win over San Marcos on Friday night in Oxnard.
It was a tough loss for the Royals (1-4) who were in control for most of the game.
After its defense forced a punt in the opening drive of the game, San Marcos drove down the field and took the early advantage with junior fullback Ivan Reyes scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run.
The Raiders responded in the second quarter and capitalized on good field position following a short San Marcos punt. Senior kicker Ernesto Reyna put Channel Islands on the board with a 33-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining in the first half.
Oto gave the Raiders a 10-7 lead with a 39-yard touchdown run with 2:57 remaining in the third quarter.
San Marcos responded with Reyes’ second touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run with more than six minutes remaining in the game. With a 14-10 lead, the Royals looked poised for their second consecutive victory if they could manage a defensive stop.
Oto had other ideas.
He broke multiple tackles for the game-winning touchdown and finished the night with 90 yards on 11 carries
