Moorpark Can’t Kick, Valley Wins

Then came the third quarter.

Valley College took advantage of Moorpark mistakes after halftime and turned a close game into a 44-23 rout that gave the Monarchs at least a tie for the Western State Conference Southern Division title.

The Monarchs (8-1, 5-0 in division play), ranked fourth in the state, trailed, 16-14, at the half but turned up the heat in the third quarter.

The first key play came 4 minutes 46 seconds into the second half when Valley’s Henry Bell tackled punter Tim Wolleck for a safety, tying the score, 16-16.

On the second play after the ensuing free kick, Marcus Harvey ran 45 yards for a touchdown and a 23-16 lead.

Harvey, who had 85 yards in 17 carries and three touchdowns, cut across the grain after first swinging out to the left side and shifted into high gear on the open field.

The Monarchs blocked Wolleck’s punt at the Moorpark 24 and turned it into a one-yard touchdown run by Harvey two plays later.

Valley added two more scores in the fourth quarter, on passes of seven and 10 yards from Dave Lins to Harvey and Eric Carpenter.

The Monarchs have one game remaining, at home against Santa Monica on Nov. 23.

Moorpark (7-2, 4-1) probably needs to beat Santa Monica next week to keep alive its hopes for a bowl invitation.

The Raiders entered the game top-ranked in the WSC against the pass, giving up 120.3 yards per game and having allowed only two touchdowns through the air.

But Lins shredded the Moorpark secondary, completing 22 of 34 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

The Raiders played without their starting quarterback, Taj Lewis, who has been bothered by an undetermined ailment. Sophomore Steve Saum started in his place but didn’t last long.

Saum fumbled on the second play of the game and Edgar Nava recovered, giving the Monarchs the ball at the Moorpark eight.

Harvey scored three plays later on a one-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

The Raiders switched to George Jones at quarterback on the ensuing series and the freshman from Hueneme High connected with Leodes Van Buren on a 14-yard pass to tie the score, 7-7, with 9:40 left in the first quarter.

Jones put Moorpark ahead, 13-7, on a one-yard run around left.

Valley took a 14-13 lead early in the second quarter on a 43-yard pass from Lins to Eric Ruhle.

Moorpark took a 16-14 lead on Wolleck’s 28-yard field goal with 6:24 to play in the half.