Moorpark Passes by Compton, 49-19

For Jim Bittner, trying to choose a starting quarterback for his Moorpark College team has proven to be a personal dilemma. “Doing it this season is going to be one of the hardest decisions I ever make,” he said.

Dan Nagelmann, Steve Armstrong and Steve Haddad will see to that.

Each is a legitimate starter. Which will start, Bittner can’t--or won’t--say.

As a cool wind whipped through the Compton College stadium Saturday afternoon, Dan, Steve and Steve combined to whip Compton, 49-19.

“It would be tough for us to polish all three and make the progress we want to make,” said Bittner, following his Raiders into the locker room after they evened their record at 1-1. “So, for now, all I can say is that we have three quarterbacks.”

Nagelmann, a freshman from Thousand Oaks High who started both Saturday and last week in Moorpark’s 20-7 loss to Harbor, played most. But Armstrong and Haddad were equally as effective.

Nagelmann threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ron Reaves and finished with eight completions for 125 yards. Haddad and Mark Lockwood combined on a 72-yard completion for a touchdown. With Moorpark leading 35-19, Armstrong directed a four-play, 75-drive that was highlighted by tailback Robert Davis running the final 52 for a touchdown.

Davis, transfer from Pierce, also had a 14-yard touchdown run and ended the game with 157 yards on 13 carries. Freshman Kenny Durr chipped in with a 17-yard touchdown run.

Jim Bittner, the son of the coach, rambled 10 yards up the middle for Moorpark’s first touchdown and led off the second half with a 56-yard run for his second touchdown. Bittner rushed seven times for 91 yards.

About the starting job, Nagelmann said, “Coach doesn’t tell us who is going to start until five minutes before the game. So each of us has to be ready. I know I’ll be ready. I don’t think it matters much. I think whoever is playing is going to do well just for the for the team and not because they want the job so much.”