Moorpark Quarterbacks Can’t Do Job in 20-7 Loss

Moorpark College football Coach Jim Bittner auditioned three quarterbacks Saturday night at Harbor College in his search to find a starter to replace Ken Lutz, who transferred San Jose State.

Bittner rotated freshman Dan Nagelmann with Steve Armstrong and Steve Haddad, but only Nagelmann was able to generate any offense as Moorpark lost, 20-7, in the season-opener for both teams.

Harbor scored 10 points in the second quarter as Pablo Ramirez kicked a 40-yard field goal and quarterback Myron Ashley threw a 9-yard scoring pass to Duane Smith.

Moorpark rallied from that deficit in the fourth quarter, although a 43-yard punt return for a touchdown by Darren Romano was wiped out by a clipping call. The Raiders made up for that when Nagelmann hit Shaun Breen for a 2-yard touchdown to cap a 59-yard scoring drive with 11 minutes remaining.

Nagelmann, who started the first quarter and returned late in the third, led the Raiders on a 52-yard drive to the Harbor four-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Running back Kenny Durr broke three tackles for what appeared to be the go-ahead touchdown, but another clipping penalty nullified the score.

Daniel Eastman’s ensuing 37-yard field goal attempt was wide to the left.

Ramirez then kicked a 32-yard field goal for Harbor and Ashley threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Smith to put the game out of reach.

Nagelmann finished with five completions in 10 attempts for 91 yards, but was intercepted three times. Armstrong completed one of three passes with two interceptions, and Haddad missed on all four passing attempts.