Moorpark Falls in the Final Seconds : Ventura Triumphs on 34-Yard Field Goal by a Reserve, 20-17

Matt Fowler, like most placekickers, does not see a lot of action for a couple reasons. Number One: The nature of his position. Number Two: The nature of his position on the Ventura College team, second string.

So, Fowler didn’t expect to play Saturday against Moorpark.

But with Ventura’s first-string kicker out with an injury and the score knotted at 17-17 in the fourth quarter, it was all up to Fowler.

With 23 seconds left in the game, Ventura Coach Phil Passno called for Fowler, and he answered with a 34-yard field goal giving the Pirates a 20-17 Western State Conference victory.

Ventura’s regular kicker, Rick Stratton, was injured in the third quarter while attempting to make a tackle. But Passno had a lot of confidence in Fowler.

“I’ve got faith in him, just as I do in Steve Colitti,” Passno said, referring to another reserve who was playing in place of a starter.

Colitti started at quarterback, replacing Russell Widerburg, who injured a knee last week against Compton.

In the first quarter, it appeared as if Moorpark was on its way to an easy victory.

Buried on their three-yard line by a Ventura punt, the Raiders drove 97 yards, capped by quarterback Kevin Lutz’s nine-yard pass to wide receiver Dan Russell.

Moorpark led, 10-0, in the second quarter when Kevin Greene completed a nine-play drive by kicking a 33-yard field goal.

But Ventura bounced back.

With the passing of Colitti and the rushing of yet another reserve, fullback Richard Grooms, the Pirates marched to the Raiders’ 10-yard line in the second quarter before settling for a 27-yard field goal by Stratton.

Grooms finished with 123 yards on 20 carries.

On Ventura’s next possession, Colitti connected with Ron Rominger for a 53-yard touchdown. Stratton’s kick then tied the game at 10-10.

“We knocked them down in the first half, but we didn’t knock them out,” Moorpark College Coach Jim Bittner said. “You have to give them credit; they didn’t give up. A good team meets the challenge. We had a chance, but we didn’t take advantage.”

The game remained tied until 3:20 in the third quarter when Lutz scored on a four-yard run. Greene’s kick put the Raiders ahead, 17-10.

Ventura tied the game, 17-17, in the fourth quarter when Colitti scored on a dive from just inches out.

Moorpark moved the ball to its 43 with 2:20 remaining but punted on a fourth-and-three.

That gave Ventura the last shot.

Ventura improved to 1-1 in league and 3-2 overall. Moorpark fell to 1-1 and 3-2.

The Pirates lead the 18-year series between the schools, 15-3.

Moorpark has beaten Ventura just once--27-6 in 1982--in the last 14 years.