Moorpark Steams Past Glendale, 24-0

That steamroller at one end of the Glendale High football stadium sure proved a bad omen for Glendale College.

Moorpark, behind its trademark strong defense, flattened the Vaqueros, 24-0, Saturday in a Western State Conference interdivisional game.

The Raiders (4-1) controlled the line of scrimmage, particularly on defense, and penetrated at will to repeatedly keep Glendale (2-3) in poor field position.

“We are just very quick [on defense],” said Jim Bittner, Moorpark coach. “It’s a different speed level when you play against us.”

Moorpark outgained the Vaqueros, 386 yards to 153, and forced four turnovers, all interceptions. Dewayne Mathis had his third and fourth interceptions, and Kerry Miller and Terrance Petty each had one.

The Raiders sacked Aryn Hart four times and allowed Glendale to cross midfield only three times.

“This was the first time our offense was slowed down,” said John Cicuto, Glendale coach.

Glendale was averaging 397.8 yards and 30.5 points but Moorpark limited Hart to 10-of-22 passing for 79 yards and three interceptions, and kept running backs Ramone Archie, who had 31 yards, and Rahsaan Harrison, who had 71, in check.

Archie, who entered the game with 516 yards rushing, second-best in the WSC, was hampered by a groin injury he suffered several weeks ago and aggravated in a loss to Valley on Oct. 5.

“The passing game loosens up the running game,” Cicuto said. “A team like Moorpark is just going to load up against the run.”

Moorpark used one of the interceptions to set up its first touchdown, a five-yard run by Ivan McCrae with 7:28 left in the first quarter.

The Raiders took advantage of a blocked punt by Bryant Durfee deep in Glendale territory to go ahead, 13-0, two plays later on a three-yard run by Aaron Davis with 2:25 remaining in the quarter.

Taj Lewis, who was seven of 14 for 134 yards, hit Davis on a screen pass that went 41 yards to set up Tim Wolleck’s 35-yard field goal for a 16-0 halftime lead.

Lewis raced 68 yards to the Glendale 14 midway through the third quarter. McCrae scored three plays later on a three-yard run and Davis hooked up with Dion Gaston on the two-point conversion.

McCrae had 70 yards in 16 carries, Gaston had 56 yards in eight rushes and Lewis rushed eight times for 60 yards.

“We couldn’t get [good] pass protection,” Bittner said. “We had our problems. But we could run [the ball].”