Moorpark Offensive at Expense of Glendale : College football: Raiders go on the attack for the first time this season but have to hold off Vaqueros in the final quarter for a 26-19 victory.

Two questions about the football game between Moorpark and Glendale colleges Saturday night:

Where did Moorpark suddenly find its offense?

And when will Glendale stop spotting opponents so many points, only to rally in the second half but fall short?

That was the long and short of it in Moorpark’s 26-19 victory over the Vaqueros in a Western State Conference interdivisional game at Griffin Stadium.

Moorpark (4-1, 3-1 in conference play) entered the game averaging 16.7 points and had scored 20 or more points only once, in a 25-14 victory over Chaffey on Sept. 16.

But the Raiders moved the ball at will against Glendale to build a 26-3 lead.

“We put a little option in there [the offense] and we threw the ball downfield,” said Jim Bittner, Moorpark coach. “I was very pleased with the progress we made.”

Glendale (1-4, 1-2) got off to a poor start for the second consecutive week and could not catch up despite a furious rally in the fourth quarter.

In a 48-35 loss to Valley last week, the Vaqueros fell behind, 21-0, after one quarter and closed the gap to three points twice before losing.

The regenerated Moorpark offense relied on fullback Kris Kirksey, a sophomore from Simi Valley High, who rushed for 126 yards in 22 carries.

And the Moorpark defense, one of the best in the state, gave another outstanding effort until the waning moments. The Raiders forced two turnovers and had five sacks.

Linebacker Joseph Zapater had two fumble recoveries, both leading to Moorpark touchdowns.

The second one set up an eight-yard run by David Cameron that gave the Raiders their last points with 5 minutes 18 seconds to play.

Glendale scored on a 14-yard pass from Greg Marquez to Rocky Barbaro and on a 12-yard pass from Marquez to Scott Boldvich to get within 26-19 with 46 seconds left.

Marquez completed 13 of 23 for 144 yards in two quarters of action.

The Raiders took a 3-0 lead on a 39-yard field goal by Tim Wolleck with 9:27 to play in the first quarter.

Moorpark increased the cushion to 10-0 a few minutes later on a nine-yard run by Gary Clemons and to 16-0 early in the second quarter when Clemons ran eight yards for a touchdown.

Glendale pulled to within 16-3 on a 30-yard field goal by Anthony Perico with 4:08 remaining in the half.

Moorpark threatened after the Glendale field goal and marched 48 yards on eight plays to the Vaquero 28 but Kirksey fumbled and Carlos Magana recovered.

Wolleck added a 35-yard field goal with 13:10 left in the game.