Coastal Conference : Moore Does the Most as Thousand Oaks Wins

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

The No. 2 man behind Ventura County career rushing leader Marc Monestime for three seasons, Moore was unstoppable as Thousand Oaks beat Marmonte League rival Channel Islands 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.”

The Lancers scored 17 points in the second half to run away from the Raiders.

On the second play of the half, Thousand Oaks quarterback Steve Sisco ran 67 yards for a touchdown 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. Thousand Oaks scored again on its next possession, when Sisco, who rushed for 100 yards in 10 carries, passed four yards to Mike Hutten for a score that gave the Lancers a 24-0 lead with 5:31 left in the third quarter.

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

The Raiders were able to score again on a 51-yard pass play from quarterback Vince Medina to Victor Caro with 10:06 left in the game. However, the Lancer defense rose up to end the Raiders’ comeback.

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.”

Thousand Oaks led, 10-0, on the strength of an 8-yard touchdown run by Moore with 7:11 left in the second quarter and a 36-yard field by Cheevers just before halftime.

Moore’s dash around right end capped a 10-play, 76-yard drive. On the possession, Moore carried 5 times for 46 yards.

It was the only drive Thousand Oaks could sustain in the first half.

The Channel Islands defense, aggressively keying on Monestime, limited the back to 21 yards in 10 carries in the first half. Monestime finished with 40 yards, and left the game with a knee injury late in the third quarter and never returned.

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.