Moorpark with 10-7 halftime lead

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Moorpark has plenty of things to be happy about going into the locker room with a 10-7 lead over Westlake.

The Musketeers defense came up big on the Warriors’ past two drives, making the performance of Westlake junior quarterback Nick Isham somewhat mute despite going nine of 12 for 141 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

That interception came at an opportune time. Westlake faced first-and-10 on Moorpark’s 20-yard line with a 7-3 lead, but Isham’s pass to junior wide receiver Jared Fry tipped off his hands and landed in the hands of Moorpark senior defensive back AJ Dettorre.

The incredibly quick running from Moorpark’s senior tailback Austin Edmonson, who ended the first half with 18 rushes for 110 yards, mostly carried the Musketeers up to the one-yard line on the next drive. And senior quarterback Brody Rohach punched in with a one-yard touchdown run. After the extra point, the Musketeers led 10-7 with 1:40 remaining.

That was more than enough time for Westlake to respond. With the Warriors facing second-and-10 at Moorpark’s 44-yard line, Isham eluded a blitz by marching to the left side of the field, running down the sideline and cutting back into the middle of the field for a 23-yard run with 21.3 seconds remaining.

But Isham was tackled for a 19-yard loss on the next play by Brian Blechen with 8.4 seconds remaining. After Isham’s pass to Fry fell incomplete on the next play, Isham broke out for another run but he was tackled at the 18-yard line to end the first half.

--Mark Medina