Moorpark Gives Ventura a Rude Awakening, 41-6

In the days leading to Saturday’s football season opener between Ventura College and Moorpark, Ventura Coach George Rosales promised a competitive contest.

He must have been thinking of some other game.

Moorpark destroyed hapless Ventura, 41-6, rolling up 389 yards of offense while limiting the Pirates to 144 in the Western State Conference interdivisional game.

The Raiders have now won eight consecutive times against their county rivals. In that span, Moorpark has outscored Ventura, 298-46.

Leading the assault for Moorpark was quarterback Taj Lewis, who ran for a touchdown and threw for two more in little more than two quarters of work.

Lewis completed six of 14 passes for 87 yards. Ten Raiders ran the ball, the best performance put up by Bryan Wilkins, who rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown in 11 carries.

Defensively, Moorpark was equally proficient. Ventura quarterbacks Kyle Schommer and Brian Rucker were sacked six times and were a combined 18 of 30 for 141 yards. Schommer threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Moorpark led, 13-0, after one quarter.

Wilkins scored Moorpark’s first touchdown on an eight-yard run and Lewis and George Jones combined on a 16-yard pass play for the second score.

In the second quarter, Moorpark scored on a 16-yard run by Lewis, a seven-yard run by Ivan McCrae and a 14-yard pass from Lewis to Taveon Ferguson to lead at halftime, 34-0.

McCrae rushed for 54 yards in seven carries and scored twice.

Ventura freshman receiver Donell Wickett caught 11 passes for 95 yards and the Pirates’ touchdown.