Moorpark Defense Throws Blanket Over Ventura

Once again, the Moorpark College football team played Ventura College in a fog.

However, this time the fog was swirling in the air rather than in the Moorpark helmets, and instead of being upset as they were last year, the Raiders won, 28-0, Saturday night at Ventura High.

The win gave Moorpark (8-1 overall, 7-1 in Western State Conference play, 4-0 in the Northern Division) at least a share of the division championship as well as the Citrus Cup, which is awarded to the winner of the Moorpark-Ventura game.

“I thought we dominated the game from the start,” Moorpark Coach Jim Bittner said. “We played a little tight and probably should have had more points. Gradually, we loosened up.”

The convincing victory helped purge the memories of a 12-10 loss last year to Ventura, which cost Moorpark an undefeated season.

True to form, Moorpark won with a ferocious defense and the running of Freddie Bradley.

The Raider defense forced six turnovers and held Ventura (7-2, 6-2, 2-2) to 219 total yards. The Moorpark defense, ranked fourth in the state, preserved its fourth shutout of the season by stopping Ventura running back Collis Seale-McConnie inches short of the goal line as time expired.

Bradley rushed for 118 yards in 28 carries and padded his state scoring lead with touchdowns runs of one, two and four yards.

Trailing, 14-0, at halftime, Ventura put together one of its few sustained drives, a five-minute, 60-yard march, to open the third quarter.

However, the Moorpark defense stiffened on its own 15, and Tony Kerr blocked Ty Hewitt’s 32-yard field-goal attempt.

On Ventura’s next possession, Ray Mosones intercepted a pass and Moorpark capitalized by driving 55 yards. Bradley tumbled in for the touchdown from four yards.

Moorpark quarterback Jayson Merrill completed 11 of 25 passes for 160 yards, and he hit Rick Wright on a post pattern for the Raiders’ final touchdown, a 38-yarder with 3:15 remaining in the third quarter.

Bradley played sparingly in the second half, and Bittner cleared his bench in the fourth quarter.