Oxnard, CA — Not even Jim Bittner could escape the Rio Mesa High defense Friday night. The Spartans head coach received a celebratory Gatorade shower after his team put all their talents on display on a pivotal night in the Channel League. Henry Borjas caught a touchdown pass and had an interception and Sal Maria had two interceptions as visiting Rio Mesa snapped first-place Pacifica’s 18-game league winning streak with a 24-7 win. “Collectively, we played very well as a team,” Bittner said. “Everyone realized what their job was, what they needed to do to help us. By playing as a team, it really helped us overcome their athleticism. “I think we’re starting to figure it out a little bit.” J’Lin Wingo and Isaiah Bautista broke long touchdown runs as Rio Mesa handed Pacifica its first loss in league play since a 36-27 defeat to Oxnard on Oct. 11, 2019. “They won the battle up front and we shot ourselves in the foot,” Pacifica coach Mike Moon said. “I was worried about those two things and that’s what happened.” Chance Harrison also had an interception on a banner night for the Rio Mesa secondary. “The speed is really what helped us against this team,” Bittner said. “We put more speed on the field, did a couple things different in coverage and it took them out of their game a little bit.” The result sets up a wild finish in the new-look Channel League. Four teams — Buena, Pacifica, Rio Mesa and Santa Barbara — sit tied atop the standings at 5-1 with two weeks to play. While Rio Mesa (6-2) will host Dos Pueblos and visits Ventura over the next fortnight, Pacifica (6-2) will host Gonzales Road rival Oxnard and Buena. It was a memorable night for the Rio Mesa seniors, who endured agonizingly dramatic losses to Pacifica the last two seasons. “Our kids really wanted it,” Bittner said. “We have a big senior group and they really wanted the game. We had to get that monkey off our back. They’ve got a quality football team. They’re going to make a deep run somehow.” The Spartans hadn’t beaten Pacifica since 2017 and had only won one of the past 10 meetings dating back to 2011. “This was a big goal for us this year,” said Wingo, who rushed for 164 yards and a score on 23 carries as Rio Mesa piled up 211 yards on the ground. “We just played as a team today.” Maria, who’s older brother R.J. wore his 2019 Pacifica High state championship ring on the field after the game, was understandably in a good mood. “It brings a smile to my face, honestly,” Maria said. “I’m happy right now. That’s a tough team. There’s a lot of good players. That’s why it’s so good to beat them. … Beating them shows what level we’re on. Athlete for athlete, we match up.” Rio Mesa quarterback J.J. Bittner completed his first six passes and finishing 12 of 18 for 125 yards and a touchdowns. Pacifica sophomore quarterback Tagg Harrison completed 10 of 20 passes for 115 yards and two interceptions. He was relieved by sophomore Dominic Duran, who completed 6 of 12 for 146 yards, a TD and two interceptions. Josh Joyner caught six passes for 87 yards and a TD, but was held without a positive yard rushing. Savion Taylor caught five passes for 88 yards and Tommy Alfaro caught two passes for 59 yards. Leading 10-0 after a nearly perfect first half, Rio Mesa built a 24-0 stranglehold in the third quarter on touchdown runs of 56 yards by junior Wingo and 41 yards by Bautista. Joyner’s one-handed, 5-yard touchdown catch from Duran late in the third quarter earned Pacifica its lone points of the night. Rio Mesa grabbed control of the game in the first half. Senior Matthew Romero kicked a 45-yard field goal in the first quarter and, with 1:18 left in the half, Borjas broke a tackle in the secondary for a 30-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 10-0. Coming off consecutive shutouts of Ventura and Channel Islands, It was the first touchdown Pacifica had allowed in more than 13 full quarters, a streak that nearly reached three full hours of football. In between, Maria had his first of two interceptions as the Spartans defense kept Pacifica’s high-powered offense to its first scoreless first half since August 2021, a streak of 17 games. “They’re a good football team,” Moon said. “They did a good job. They game planned and that’s what happened. We’ve known that we had some glaring deficiencies. Now it’s on display and we’ve got to figure it out.”