Moorpark Steps Up to 6th in Southland Football Poll

Moorpark College moved up a notch to sixth place in this week’s Southland JC Football poll after Saturday’s 21-0 victory over Santa Monica. Antelope Valley (1-0-1) is 13th, one place ahead of Valley (1-0-1). Moorpark is 2-0.

Saddleback (3-0) retained the top position with a 44-14 victory over Cerritos. The Gauchos are followed by Palomar (2-0), El Camino (2-0), Pasadena (3-0) and Bakersfield (2-0), which dropped a place despite a 40-6 rout of Ventura.

Rounding out the top 10 are San Bernardino Valley (2-0-1) in seventh, Santa Barbara City (2-0), Mt. San Antonio (2-1) and Cerritos (2-1).

Valley College tailback Howard Blackwell shared Western State Conference offensive-player-of-the-week honors with Santa Barbara City running back Zack Brunner.

Moorpark College linebacker Quincy Johnson was co-defensive player of the week, sharing the award with defensive back Chris Cook of West Los Angeles.

Blackwell, a transfer from Oregon who played at Hart High, rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries. He also caught six passes for 55 yards and another touchdown.

Johnson made five tackles, recorded three sacks and caused a fumble in Moorpark’s shutout of Santa Monica.

Starting guard Brian Hay of Cal State Northridge suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee in last week’s 14-0 loss to Central Oklahoma and is doubtful for Saturday’s game at Idaho. Edvin Babayova, who replaced Hay during last Saturday’s game, is expected to start in Hay’s place.

In the wake of CSUN’s poor running game--31 yards in 20 carries against Central Oklahoma--two other reserve offensive linemen will join Babayova in the starting lineup. Scott Norman will replace Greg Sorensen at center and Jose Casillas will replace Kevin Bess at right guard.

Tailback Jamal Farmer, who has missed the last three games and is rehabilitating from arthroscopic knee surgery performed Sept. 16, is listed as probable for Saturday.

Fullback Jim Warren, who missed the Central Oklahoma game because of a knee sprain, is listed as doubtful.

Fred Sturm, coach of the U.S. men’s volleyball team, will take part in a volleyball coaches’ clinic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Cal State Northridge.

Sturm will teach individual and team defensive tactics. He also will answer questions.

Northridge Coach John Price and assistant Jeff Campbell will teach setting, hitting and passing techniques as well as offensive strategy, drills and practice ideas. Northridge finished with a 19-12 record and was ranked fourth in the nation last season.

Registration will be taken Saturday morning at 8:30 in the Northridge gym.

Information: 818-885-4512.

Open basketball leagues for players ages 18 and older are forming at the Tarzana Recreation Center. League play will begin Oct. 4 and will continue through late December.

Information: 818-342-8570.