JC FOOTBALL : Valley Settles for Less but Beats Moorpark

It was billed as a struggle between Valley College’s high-octane offense and Moorpark’s stingy defense.

In the end, the Monarch offense, although not as dominant as in previous games, was able to inflict enough damage to come out with a 31-17 victory in a Western State Conference South Division game Saturday night before 5,682 at Griffin Stadium.

The victory gave Valley (9-0, 8-0 in conference play, 5-0 in division play) the inside track on the divisional race. The Monarchs, ranked No. 1 in the state and in one national poll, have a bye next Saturday and will face Santa Monica on Nov. 18 with the title possibly on the line.

The Corsairs were idle Saturday.

Valley, which led the state with 518.6 yards per game, had 351 against Moorpark. The Raiders had the top-rated defense in the state at 202.0 yards per game.

Quarterback Aaron Flowers and running back Elijah Raphael led the Monarchs against Moorpark (7-2, 6-2, 4-1), which must defeat Santa Monica next Saturday to stay alive in the divisional race.

Flowers completed 21 of 39 for 228 yards and two touchdowns, both to Raphael, who also ran for one with 10 minutes 22 seconds left to play that provided the final score. Raphael had 54 yards in 10 carries.

The Monarchs struck quickly after blocking a Moorpark punt to take a 7-0 lead on only two plays from scrimmage.

On fourth and five from the Moorpark 29, Valley cornerback Henry Bell blocked a punt by Robert Ralston that gave the Monarchs the ball at the Moorpark six.

After an incomplete pass by Flowers, running back Marcus Harvey scored from six yards on a run around the right side.

Another Moorpark blunder set up Valley’s second touchdown.

Tailback Gary Clemons fumbled at the Raider 35, where David Patrick recovered and gave to safety Chris Shinnick on a lateral.

Shinnick returned the ball to the Moorpark 11, and Flowers countered a blitz by connecting with Raphael on a five-yard pass for a 14-0 lead with 26 seconds left in the first quarter.

Moorpark answered with a three-yard run by Clemons early in the second quarter to pull to within 14-7 and capitalized moments later on a fumble by Valley receiver Eric Ruhle after an 18-yard pass from Flowers.

Cornerback Jesse Rosen recovered Ruhle’s fumble and Bryan Wilkins scored moments later on a four-yard run to tie the score, 14-14.

Valley marched 86 yards in 10 plays to go ahead, 20-14, on a 23-yard pass play from Flowers to Raphael with 6:45 left before halftime. Raphael reached the end zone after making some fine cuts to evade would-be tacklers.

The Monarchs then got a 20-yard field goal by Matt Kohl for a 23-14 halftime cushion.

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Glendale 29, Pierce 14--Ramone Archie rushed for 171 yards and a touchdown in 25 carries for the Vaqueros (3-5, 3-3, 2-1) in a WSC North Division victory at Pierce.

David Muir completed 19 of 29 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown for the Brahmas (1-7, 1-6, 0-3).

Glendale opened the scoring on a 26-yard pass from Aryan Hart to Kefvon Baker, capping an eight-play, 73-yard drive. The drive was kept alive on a 25-yard run on fourth and one by Archie.

The Vaqueros scored again on their next two drives, first on a one-yard run by Archie, then on a two-yard run by Rahsaan Harrison to go up 20-0.

Pierce got on the board when David Muir hit Reggie James on a seven-yard pass with 16 seconds left in the half. The seven-play, 65-yard drive, was aided by a personal foul penalty and a pass interference call that put the ball on the Vaquero two-yard line.

Hart completed 12 of 24 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Harrison added 56 yards and a touchdown in 13 carries.