Fumble Provides Impetus for Moorpark’s 34-7 Win

Some games go down to the wire. Others simply get out of hand.

Moorpark and Glendale colleges appeared to be engaged in the former Saturday night before one controversial goal-line call and a week’s worth of emotion threw it all out the window. What resulted was a 34-7 Western State Conference North Division victory for Moorpark.

“Both teams were intense and tempers were flaring,” Moorpark quarterback Corey Tucker said after he had completed 13 of 19 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. “We knew they were gonna come to play us.”

In a penalty-filled affair, the intensity level rose to a peak with 5 minutes 26 seconds to play.

With Moorpark (7-2, 6-2 in WSC play, 3-1 in division play) leading, 21-7, Glendale running back Rafik Thorossian took a handoff less than a yard from the end zone and plunged forward.

But before a decision could be made on the play, a Moorpark defender punched the ball loose from Thorossian at the goal line and Raider Lance Thomas grabbed it and took off in the opposite direction.

“I crossed the plane (of the goal line),” Thorossian said after Glendale fell to 3-6 overall, 3-5 in conference play, 3-1 in division play. “My knee was down, they knocked the ball out and ran it back.”

Thomas’ apparent 100-yard touchdown was called back because of a clipping penalty, but the damage was done. Moorpark took over on its own 48 and quelled any comeback aspirations.

Tucker connected with wide receiver Curtis Marsh (10 catches, 152 yards, two touchdowns) for an eight-yard touchdown eight plays later and Raider defensive back Melvin Nunnery returned an interception 58 yards in the closing minute to finish the scoring.

“Give Moorpark credit,” Glendale Coach John Cicuto said. “(But) I think the officials totally made some calls that really put us in a hole.”

There were 26 penalties called in the game: Glendale was flagged 15 times for 96 yards, Moorpark 11 for 101.

The penalty barrage also overshadowed some impressive individual performances. Glendale freshman quarterback Eric Kiesau completed 25 of 30 for 208 yards and a touchdown. His main targets were Joe Wade (eight receptions, 95 yards) and Keith West (six for 33).

In a first-half defensive struggle, Moorpark managed to escape with a 7-0 lead at the intermission despite being outgained in yardage, 148-89.

The Raiders scored with 1:52 to play in the first quarter when running back Johnel Turner capped a five-play, 35-yard drive with a 10-yard run through the right side of the Vaquero defense.

The touchdown was set up minutes earlier when Moorpark linebacker Joseph McLaughlin recovered a fumble by Glendale running back Bobby Webster at the Vaquero 35 after Webster was tackled behind the line of scrimmage by Ty Wilcox.

Glendale did manage to move the ball periodically throughout the first half. But the Vaqueros also created their own problems with nine first-half penalties.

The game was almost called after Nunnery’s interception return for a touchdown in the closing minute. A brief scuffle broke out in the end zone after the touchdown.

The officials separated the players and play was resumed after several minutes. Both teams were penalized for their part in the fight.

“Glendale beat us last year and they were really taunting us on the field,” Marsh said. “I still think we’re the best team in the conference and we deserve to be in a bowl.”