Moorpark’s Rally Falls Short, 28-25

The problem with playing furious come-from-behind football is that there is always an opponent that does not feel the effects of hard hits or pressure defense--the clock.

Moorpark College learned that lesson the hard way Saturday night as the Raiders’ determined second-half rally ran out of time and luck against host Santa Barbara City in a 28-25 Western State Conference Northern Division loss before about 3,000.

Trailing, 28-3, at halftime, Moorpark regrouped in a big way behind an inspired defensive effort and the running of Jamal Anderson--only to come up short.

“This was a hard one to lose,” said Moorpark Coach Jim Bittner, whose team lost a golden opportunity to assume the driver’s seat in the divisional title race. “We tried to make a comeback and it looked like we might just get it done.”

Almost.

After Moorpark (6-2, 5-2 in conference play, 2-1 in divisional play) closed to within three points on a Tim Blakely diving eight-yard touchdown reception from Corey Tucker with 2 minutes 36 seconds to play, Moorpark watched its final attempt to get the ball back evaporate on a fourth-down roughing-the-kicker penalty with 38 seconds remaining.

Santa Barbara City quarterback Poncho Renteria, who all but shredded the Moorpark defense in the first half, downed the ball twice to run out the clock.

“That was too close,” said Renteria, who finished 21 of 31 for 270 yards and three touchdowns. “Give the (Vaquero) defense all the credit in the world.”

Anderson, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound sophomore, finished with 162 yards and a touchdown in 19 carries for his fifth consecutive 100-yard-plus game. Moorpark outgained Santa Barbara, 383-328.

Santa Barbara (7-1, 6-1, 3-0), which snapped a six-game losing streak against Moorpark dating to 1985, opened a 25-point halftime advantage behind three Renteria touchdown passes and an 80-yard punt return by Paul Perkins.

Displaying the poise and confidence of a quarterback in pregame warmups, Renteria completed his first seven passes before a Vaquero receiver dropped pass No. 8. Renteria finished the half 12 of 14 for 191 yards.

After spending a week’s worth of practice preparing for the Santa Barbara passing attack, Moorpark apparently forgot about the Santa Barbara punt return team as Peters opened the scoring with a brilliant 80-yard return 2 1/2 minutes into the first quarter.