Slice of Life and Oddities at Moorpark

Last week at Moorpark High, there were kitchen accidents and ghost stories.

Then there was a football victory at Calabasas. A big one.

Must be an odd-numbered year.

The Musketeers, who won the Frontier League championship in 1993 and 1995, defeated Calabasas, 16-7, in a league opener Friday, concluding a bizarre week that began with quarterback Chad Willis slicing his right (throwing) thumb as he opened a can of ravioli while baby-sitting the neighbors’ kids.

Playing with seven stitches, Willis completed six of 16 passes for 45 yards and a touchdown in a game plan with shortened passing routes because he couldn’t throw deep.

But it might have been Coach Ron Wilford’s pre-game talk that stirred Moorpark (5-1).

“There’s been a great tradition that started here in 1993,” Wilford said. “You’re playing with a lot of the ghosts from the guys that played here before.”

As for Moorpark’s success during odd-numbered years. . . .

“It’s just weird,” said Willis, who will have his stitches removed this week. “And it has always started on Calabasas’ field. Nothing but good things have happened there.”

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Rush week: Three area running backs more than doubled their season rushing totals Friday night.

* Palmdale’s Shaun Perez, who had gained 194 yards through five games, ran for 197 in a 41-16 victory over Lancaster.

* Quartz Hill’s Hiram Johnson gained 134 yards in a 29-6 loss to Antelope Valley after having run for 134.

* Glendale’s Luis Company, who had rushed for 59 yards in 23 carries, picked up 124 yards in 28 carries in a 21-7 loss to Pasadena.

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Rushing 101: Notre Dame’s Justin Fargas was limited to 80 yards in last week’s loss to St. Francis and Village Christian’s David Romberger gained 97 yards in a loss to L.A. Baptist, leaving only two area running backs who have rushed for 100 or more yards in every game this season.

Crescenta Valley’s Kenny Pritchett (1,074 yards in 158 carries) and Oxnard’s Desmond Davis (856 yards in 123 carries) remain.

Davis’ streak will be in jeopardy because he strained a knee Friday against Ventura and will visit an orthopedic doctor today.

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Injury update: Burbank running back Juni Williams missed Friday’s game against Valencia with a bruised shoulder. Williams, an all-area basketball player who is the Bulldogs’ leading rusher, is not expected to miss another game. . . . Burbank quarterback Cliff Lohner also missed the 42-6 loss to Valencia with a sprained knee. He is questionable this week. . . . Davis is not Oxnard’s only injured player. Eric Swanger, the Yellowjackets’ leading receiver, separated a shoulder and will miss at least one game. Fullback-linebacker Chad Pierson, perhaps Oxnard’s most valuable player, is recovered from severe cramps in both legs.

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Key player: Tight end-linebacker Alex Holmes of Harvard-Westlake caught four passes, blocked two extra-point attempts and returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown Friday against Serra.

Wanting to give the 6-foot-3, 265-pound sophomore a breather after his scoring run, coaches pulled him for the ensuing kickoff.

Serra promptly returned the kick 98 yards for the eventual winning points in a 26-12 victory.