Moorpark Floors Santa Monica for the Count of Sixty

Here’s an idea for times like these:

How about TKOs in football?

It would have come in handy Saturday night when Moorpark College pounded Santa Monica, 60-6, in a Western State Conference Southern Division mismatch at Moorpark.

The Raiders (8-2, 5-1 in division play), looking for someone on whom to vent their frustration after a 44-23 loss to Valley last week, hammered Santa Monica (4-5, 3-2) from the opening kickoff.

“The Raiders don’t like to lose,” Jim Bittner, the Moorpark coach, said. “We were smarting all week. We had something to prove tonight.”

With George Jones at quarterback in place of injured Taj Lewis, who is sidelined with a kidney infection, the Raiders rolled up 513 yards and their most lopsided victory since beating Ventura, 63-3, in 1991.

It was the worst defeat for Santa Monica since losing to Bakersfield, 59-6, two years ago.

Jones, a freshman from Hueneme High who had been playing receiver until last week’s game, completed eight of 16 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

“I felt like I was off,” Jones said. “I messed up on some passes I should have completed.”

Even if Jones truly hadn’t been sharp, the Raiders had no choice but to stick with him. Their second-string quarterback, Steve Saum, is out after getting a concussion against Valley.

“I was kidding [Jones] at the half, I said, ‘You lost your concentration a little. If I had anybody else, I’d replace you,’ ” Bittner said with a laugh.

Moorpark marched 74 yards in four plays on the game’s opening drive and took a 7-0 lead on Ivan McCrae’s five-yard run. Jones and freshman wide receiver Lawrence Lovett set up the touchdown with a 54-yard pass play.

The Raiders added seven points on Santa Monica’s first possession when Marc Ruiz’s pass was intercepted by Antwan Simpson and returned 19 yards for a touchdown.

But the nightmare was just beginning for the Corsairs.

The Raiders finished with 30 points in the first quarter, including a 29-yard touchdown run by McCrae, a 26-yard scoring pass from Jones to Leodes Van Buren.

In the second half, Van Buren and Coron Lewis ran for touchdowns and Jones threw a 37-yard scoring pass to Randy Hurt.

Santa Monica scored on a 70-yard pass play from Aaron Ho to Demetrius Posey.

McCrae had 94 yards in seven carries. Ho added 23 for 231 yards.