SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : Coastal Conference : Moore Runs Thousand Oaks to 27-12 Victory

For one night, Mike Moore was no longer the other player in Thousand Oaks High’s backfield.

The senior fullback rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown as the Lancers defeated Channel Islands, 27-12, to win the Coastal Conference championship Friday at Thousand Oaks.

The No. 2 man behind Ventura County career rushing leader Marc Monestime for three seasons, Moore was an unstoppable force as Thousand Oaks beat its Marmonte League rival for the second time this season.

The championship is the first ever for Thousand Oaks (12-1-1).

“It feels so good I really can’t explain how it feels,” Moore said. “Maybe I can explain it tomorrow.”

Moore finished the season with 771 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Channel Islands defense, aggressively keying on Monestime, limited the back to 40 yards in 13 carries. Monestime finished the season with 1,636 yards and his career with 4,024 despite leaving Friday’s game with a knee injury late in the third quarter.

The Lancers, who led 10-0 at halftime, scored 17 points in the second half to run away from the Raiders.

Thousand Oaks quarterback Steve Sisco ran 67 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the second half to give the Lancers a 17-0 lead. The play was the same one that went for a 71-yard score the first time the teams met--a 27-6 Lancer victory. Sisco gained 100 yards in 10 carries.

Thousand Oaks scored again on its next possession when Sisco passed four yards to Mike Hutten to give the Lancers a 24-0 lead with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter.

Channel Islands tailback John Johnson scored on a 65-yard touchdown run four plays later but Thousand Oaks answered with Sean Cheevers’ field goal of 26 yards 53 seconds into the fourth quarter.

The Raiders scored again on a 51-yard pass play from quarterback Vince Medina to Victor Caro with 10:06 left in the game. But the Channel Islands comeback ended when Thousand Oaks safety Jeff Ward intercepted two of Medina’s passes in the fourth quarter.

“On the second interception, I just followed Caro and saw Medina waving him deeper,” Ward said. “I just went with him and picked it off.”

Cornerback Anthony Gonzales led the Lancers with nine tackles and intercepted a pass. Safety Guy Nelson had eight tackles.

Ward had three tackles, but it was his block while on offense that sprung Sisco on his touchdown run.

“I pancaked the cornerback and that allowed Steve to score,” he said. “That was the greatest feeling all night. It was fantastic.”

Thousand Oaks led at halftime, 10-0, on the strength of Moore’s eight-yard run with 7:11 left in the second quarter and Cheevers’ 36-yard field goal.

Moore’s dash around right end capped a 10-play, 76-yard drive. Moore carried five times for 46 yards as Thousand Oaks gained five of its nine first downs in the half on the drive, its only sustained offensive possession in the first two quarters.

The Lancers still managed 342 total yards, including 46 yards at the end of the half on a drive that set up Cheevers’ field goal with six seconds left.

The Raiders moved the ball convincingly at first, taking their first possession 71 yards to the Thousand Oaks’ 17. However, Channel Islands placekicker Kenny Leighton’s 34-yard field-goal try hit the crossbar.

Johnson gained 30 yards in his first two carries of the game, but had minus-five in his next five. He ended with 98 yards in 11 carries. Channel Islands (11-3) had 331 total yards.

Channel Islands Coach Joel Gershon spoke proudly of his team afterward.

“We are champions in our own right. We never gave up,” he said.

On the other side of the field, Thousand Oaks Coach Bob Richards said the night belonged to his players.

“The kids played well,” he said. “Why don’t you talk to them. It’s their night. They deserve it.”