The Menu at Moorpark Is Steak and Goose Eggs

There was an aroma surrounding the Moorpark College football field Tuesday evening other than the normal stench of dirty socks. It was a smell more inviting than repelling.

Closer inspection found a rather unusual scene taking place near the field. The Moorpark football team was having dinner.

The feast came courtesy of Moorpark coaches who, for each shutout this season, had promised to reward defensive players by buying them steak dinners. After the Raiders blanked Harbor (28-0) and Compton (24-0) in their first two games--the first back-to-back shutouts in school history--the whole team took part in the supper.

The coaches chipped in to buy 75 pounds of tri-tip steak, which they barbecued after practice Tuesday. “The offensive and defensive lines will get about half of it,” Coach Jim Bittner said.

Next week’s order of beef is on hold, however. Sixth-ranked Long Beach City College, which has scored 71 points in two games, plays host to the Raiders on Saturday night.

“They have a way of putting the points on the board,” Bittner said. “Long Beach is very explosive, a big-play team. They have both size and speed and a lot of experience on defense.”

Of the shutouts, Bittner said, “It can’t do anything but help our confidence.”