Quarterback Mystery Solved in Moorpark’s 17-13 Win Over Valley

As befits a season opener, there was plenty of confusion when Valley College played host to Moorpark on Saturday night.

The teams play in different divisions of the newly aligned, 12-team Western State Conference, but their meeting did not constitute a conference game. Thus, it was a nonconference game between conference members.

Confused?

“I don’t know what this game means,” Moorpark Coach Jim Bittner said. “I wish I could figure it out.”

One thing Bittner knows for certain is that his team opened with a come-from-behind victory. Running back Larry Roberts ran three yards for a touchdown with less than 30 seconds left to give the Raiders a 17-13 victory.

If nothing else, the win provided Bittner with an answer to the nagging question of who should start at quarterback for Moorpark.

Jayson Merrill.

Valley had taken a 13-10 lead when Jim Harper kicked a 41 yard field goal with 5:21 left.

But Merrill, who was on the bench at the beginning of the game, engineered an 85-yard drive that consumed five minutes, culminating with Roberts’ game-winning touchdown run.

The key down of the 13-play drive was a 12-yard pass from Merrill to tight end William Johnson on fourth and six at the Valley 45. He finished the night 5 of 13 for 71 yards.

“I had to go with Merrill at the end,” said Bittner, who had started Dave Sommer at quarterback. “Even in practice, he’s demonstrated the ability to come up with the play when you need it.”

Valley quarterback Todd Studer completed 15 of 28 passes for 134 yards, but 3 of his passes were intercepted. Monarch tailback Roman Carter led all rushers with 101 yards in 24 carries.

“Our offense did not play very well,” Valley Coach Chuck Ferrero said. “I’m happy with our defense but we put them on the field too many times.”

Damond Hogan kicked a 31-yard field goal with 4:22 left in the first quarter to put the Monarchs ahead, 3-0.

Moorpark answered on its next series when Roberts scored on a three-yard run with 14:13 left in the half to cap an 11-play, 85-yard drive.