Reveles’ Late Kick Spoils Moorpark’s Perfect Record, 12-10

With a game on the line, Jose Reveles would rather be watching from the sidelines.

But the Ventura College kicker had no choice Saturday and was called on to attempt a field goal after a Pirate drive stalled on the Moorpark College 12-yard line with 5 seconds remaining.

“I was hoping they (Ventura) would score so I wouldn’t have to kick,” Reveles said. “That would have taken the pressure off of me.”

Pressure notwithstanding, Reveles booted a 28-yard field goal with 2 seconds on the clock to give the visiting Pirates a come-from-behind, 12-10 Western State Conference victory over previously unbeaten Moorpark in a game that probably spoiled the Raiders’ chances of earning their first berth in the Potato Bowl.

Moorpark (8-1 overall, 7-1 in conference play), however, ranked fourth in the state by the JC Athletic Bureau, still can clinch the Northern Division championship of the WSC with a victory over L. A. Southwest in the Raiders’ season finale Saturday.

For Ventura (5-4, 4-4), defeating the Raiders highlighted a so-so season.

“This win gives us respect for our football program,” Ventura Coach Phil Passno said. “They’re a great team and all that, but I’m sure they feel that if you don’t win the Ventura game then it has been a down season in some respects.”

Moorpark was down in the first half, losing 3 fumbles to the Pirates.

“We played a sloppy first half,” Moorpark Coach Jim Bittner said. “We had some scoring opportunities and we did not take advantage of them. A lot of credit goes to them for an excellent game, both offensively and defensively.”

Moorpark trailed most of the game until Sean Cheevers kicked a 33-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 10-9 lead with 3:02 left. In 5 plays, they had marched from the Ventura 49 to the 16, where the drive bogged down.

Ventura responded by driving from its 33 to the Moorpark 12. The Pirates, who took advantage of 25 yards in Raider penalties on the drive, then called on their reluctant kicker with time running out.

The Pirates held Moorpark, which had outscored its first 8 opponents, 274-56, to only 1 touchdown in the first half. Ventura led, 3-0, until quarterback Jayson Merrill connected with tight end William Johnson on a 39-yard pass with 10 seconds remaining in the second period that put Moorpark ahead 7-3.