Moorpark Ties Up Oak Park

In a hard-hitting, emotional game between nonleague rivals Moorpark and Oak Park highs, Moorpark kicker Garrett Courtney knew that his misfortunes had everything to do with the outcome.

In front of a loud homecoming crowd Friday night at Oak Park, the teams played to a 9-9 tie.

Courtney didn’t have much to say after he missed a field goal, had a punt blocked for a touchdown and never got a chance to kick the winning extra point with 1 minute 9 seconds left because the ball slipped through the hands of his holder.

“No comment, sir,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

Oak Park (2-2-1) held a 9-3 lead and appeared to have a victory in hand in this defensive battle. But then came the only offensive touchdown--a 26-yard pass from Bill Finnerty to Jared Kira, who leaped to catch the ball in front of two defenders.

Then Oak Park saw its chances slip away.

Moorpark’s first-half misfortune started when Eagle Ryan Garth fumbled on his 24-yard line on the second play of the game and the Musketeer offense could move only 12 yards. Courtney spotted himself at the 19 right between the uprights and hooked it left.

A roughing-the-kicker call on Oak Park’s next drive led to Andrew Ewald’s 29-yard field goal that made it 3-0.

Moorpark quarterback Tyler Dritz was thrown for a 13-yard loss by Garth and, with the Musketeers facing fourth down on their three-yard-line, Courtney stood to punt with his back to the goal post.

Oak Park’s Robby Proffer broke through to block Courtney’s punt and Matt Menzie jumped on the ball for a touchdown.

The extra point failed when Mark Schwaunauer, who rushed for 93 yards, was tackled in the backfield.

Finally, with two seconds left in the half, Courtney kicked a 39-yard field goal to make it 9-3.

After Moorpark tied it, Oak Park quarterback Ron Allen completed two passes to bring the Eagles to the Musketeer 30. But he was pressured by Javier Solano and threw an interception to Adam Rauch with 16 seconds left.