Southwest’s Best Season Ever Ends in 17-0 Loss to Moorpark

The showdown for first place in the Northern Division of the Western State Conference between L.A. Southwest College and Moorpark College ended Saturday with visiting Moorpark on top, 17-0.

It was the final game of the best season ever for the Cougars, who finished 7-2-1 overall and 6-2-1 in the conference. Southwest is now ranked No. 2 in the conference and No. 10 in the state.

After Saturday’s win, Moorpark (9-1 and 8-1) is headed to the Western State Conference Bowl. The Raiders are ranked No. 1 in the conference and No. 7 in the state.

Southwest will learn later this week if it is invited to a bowl.

The Cougars’ strong season was primarily the work of a tough defense and a strong performance by freshman quarterback Craig Manigo, who completed 136 of 234 passes for 1,672 yards.

Manigo’s last game was not a good one, though. He completed only eight of 20 passes for 69 yards.

The Cougars’ running game was equally unsuccessful. Eric Gibbs led Southwest with 26 yards on 10 carries. Damon Whitmore added 24 yards on four carries. Counting losses, Southwest as a team was held to only 18 yards on the ground.

Moorpark’s attack was led by sophomore quarterback Jayson Merrill, who completed nine of 18 passes for 103 yards. For the season, Merrill completed 107 of 215 for 1,648 yards.

The Raiders’ running game was led by freshman Freddie Bradley, who had 124 yards on 29 carries. His 10-yard touchdown run with 5:30 left in the first quarter put Moorpark ahead, 7-0. That score lasted until the fourth quarter.

With 14:20 left to play in the game, Moorpark added a 31-yard field goal by freshman William Gould, and with 1:45 left, sophomore running back John Brown scored on a two-yard run. Brown had 43 yards on 11 carries.