Glendale Shaken Up by Moorpark

The Moorpark College football team didn’t waste any time putting Saturday’s game against Glendale College out of reach, starting with a 99-yard touchdown drive on its first possession.

That score lit the fuse for an explosion of 24 more first-quarter points during a four-minute blitz as the Raiders cruised to a 47-27 victory at home.

“It felt like I was in the San Francisco earthquake,” Glendale Coach John Cicuto said of Moorpark’s onslaught that gave the Raiders--the state’s top-rated defensive team--a 31-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The victory improved Moorpark to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in the Western State Conference, and set up a showdown next week with unbeaten Ventura (8-0, 7-0).

“I sort of was in awe of the whole thing,” Moorpark Coach Jim Bittner said of his team’s scoring rampage. “That first quarter, I don’t think there’s a team around that could have stayed on the field with us.”

Moorpark’s defense contributed as much as its offense, forcing three turnovers that either resulted in or set up scoring plays.

Freshman running back Freddie Bradley, who rushed for a game-high 173 yards, had given the Raiders a 7-0 lead by capping their 99-yard, 14-play drive with a five-yard run.

A personal foul penalty against Glendale (4-3-1, 4-2-1) after a Vaquero punt then gave Moorpark the ball at the Glendale 47, and Bradley finished a five-play drive with a 21-yard scoring run.

On Glendale’s first play of the ensuing possession, linebacker Raymund Mosones intercepted a pass from Vaquero quarterback Ronnie Lopez and lumbered 11 yards into the end zone to make the score 21-0.

On the first play of Glendale’s next series, Mosones recovered a fumble by Glendale fullback Wes Bender at the Vaquero 33. On the following play, quarterback Jayson Merrill fired a pass to wide receiver Rick Wright to put the Raiders ahead, 28-0.

Moorpark defensive back Kenny Doll set up the final score of the quarter, intercepting a Lopez pass that positioned the ball at the Glendale 18. Sean Cheevers kicked a 37-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining in the quarter to put the Raiders ahead, 31-0.

“That was crazy,” said Moorpark defensive back Troy Thomas, who had two interceptions. “No one thought we’d do something like that.”

Glendale actually pulled to within 34-21, and seemed to have the momentum after Lopez connected with Cody McMahon on a 17-yard touchdown pass with 4:35 left in the third quarter.

The Vaqueros, however, blew the opportunity when they were called for a personal foul after a third-down incomplete pass by Merrill. The penalty, Glendale’s ninth, gave Moorpark a first down at its 38.

Two plays later, running back John Brown raced 57 yards on a draw to the Glendale two-yard line. Bradley ran it in on the next play for his third touchdown.

Lopez completed 22 of 43 for 279 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw four interceptions. Pat Lynch caught 12 passes for 128 yards, including scores of 13 and 11 yards.

Merrill completed seven of 21 for 94 yards.