STATWATCH : Moorpark Coach Opts for Mercy

Bob Noel, Moorpark High football coach, resisted an understandable temptation in Saturday’s 40-0 win over Bishop Diego. The perennial Ventura County doormat bolted to a 26-0 halftime lead, prompting long-suffering Moorpark rooters to scream for more.

After all, Moorpark (2-7) has seen its share of one-sided games; the average margin of defeat this year has been 24 points.

Moorpark fans hollered for humiliation, but Noel demurred.

“We know what it’s like to be embarrassed,” he said. “The fans were telling me to keep after them and not worry about the score. But we had players who have only played one or two downs all year.”

Noel let his starters complete the first drive of the second half before removing them with Moorpark leading, 33-0. Their replacements added another touchdown, allowing Moorpark to hit the 40-point mark for the first time in 20 years.

Passing: Crespi’s Ron Redell made a strong showing despite the team’s 15-8 loss to Loyola on Saturday. Redell, a junior making his first varsity start, completed 22 of 29 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. “He got a lot of experience against a very good defense,” said Crespi Coach Bill Redell, Ron’s father. . . . With his team’s playoff chances dashed, Alemany Coach Enrique Lopez is looking to the future. Joey Rosselli, a sophomore quarterback, made his first start in Friday’s 14-6 loss to St. Francis. Rosselli, who had played part time behind senior Roy Talavera, completed 11 of 27 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.

Rushing: A muddy field at Thousand Oaks has slowed running back Marc Monestime’s rush toward the Ventura County career rushing record. Monestime, a senior, needs 232 yards to break the record of 3,709 set by Hilria Johnson of Channel Islands in 1977-79. The Lancers are at home Friday against Simi Valley and are guaranteed at least one playoff game. . . . Burbank tailback Gabe Jimenez needs 10 yards to set the school’s single-season rushing record. Abo Velasco, a freshman at Cal State Northridge, set the record last year with 1,046 yards. . . . Cleveland junior Sean Burwell, who rushed for 1,211 yards last season at Chaminade, gained 78 yards in nine carries in a 17-0 win over Kennedy to more than double his season output. In four games he had gained 73 yards.