Fillmore Shuts Down Upshaw, Moorpark

Not one, but two Fillmore High backs outgained Moorpark tailback Tony Upshaw in Friday night’s battle at Fillmore High as the Flashes kept abreast of Carpinteria in the Tri-Valley League race.

Junior halfback Tory Cabral rushed for a career-high 244 yards in 26 carries and scored one touchdown as Fillmore (8-0 overall) blanked Moorpark, 21-0, for its third league victory.

Cabral, who raised his season total to 1,006 yards, might have been expected to upstage Upshaw, who entered the game with 874 yards rushing. Upshaw was held to 52 in nine carries.

Fillmore reserve quarterback Art Sosa, however, in only his second start, surprisingly outgained Upshaw, also, rushing for 97 yards in 12 carries.

All told, the Flashes outrushed Moorpark (6-2, 2-1), 355 yards to 49, and outgained the Musketeers, 379-82, in total yards. Fillmore has allowed only 40 points all season.

“We usually try to mix it up with the pass and the run,” Fillmore Coach Curtis Garner said. “But Art is such a good running quarterback, we would be remiss if we didn’t utilize that.”

Fillmore fullback Hugo Virto gave the Flashes a 14-0 halftime lead with touchdown runs of three and four yards in the first and second quarters. Cabral scampered 45 yards off tackle to set up Virto’s second touchdown run. He scored Fillmore’s final touchdown midway through the fourth quarter on a four-yard smash.