Moorpark Goes Deep and Beats Antelope Valley

Three quarterbacks, five tailbacks and 10 wide receivers got into the act for Moorpark College on Saturday night.

“It was confusing at times,” Moorpark Coach Jim Bittner said. “Guys running in and out like it was a subway station.”

Sophomore quarterback George Jones stood above the crowd.

Jones, a backup last season and heir apparent to the starting job, led Moorpark on three touchdown drives in a 33-19 victory over Antelope Valley in a nonconference game before 1,326 at Moorpark College.

Jones, who completed seven of 16 passes for 152 yards, scrambled from pressure to make lengthy completions on each drive as Moorpark won a contest between two teams that have not met since 1980.

Freshmen Calvin Zinck from Kennedy High and Bryan Spencer from Oxnard also moved the offense. Six receivers made receptions and eight backs had at least one carry.

But Jones, who played exclusively in the second half, made it clear he intends to be the Raiders’ leader.

“I am the quarterback of this team,” Jones said. “No doubt. I’ve been here and I’m prepared to show a lot of leadership.”

Jones connected with Lawrence Lovett with a 35-yard strike on the game’s opening drive gave to give Moorpark (1-0) a first down at the Marauders’ 27.

Tailback Aaron Davis, who led Moorpark with 62 yards in six carries, ran 27 yards for the game’s first score.

Jones connected with Randy Hurt for a 40-yard completion to set up the Raiders’ next touchdown late in the quarter. Hurt made a diving catch along the right sideline for a first down at the Antelope Valley seven-yard line.

In the fourth quarter, Jones again hit Lovett with a 40-yard play that set up a two-yard scoring run by Jones.

“We’re still sorting it out because all three of them can play,” Bittner said. “The worst feeling you have is having to tell a kid who is hanging his head that he is not going to play.”

Moorpark also had a two-yard touchdown run by Joel Deliard and a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown by Bubba Jackson in the fourth quarter.

Zinck made the best of his first appearance, driving the Raiders from their 46 into to the Antelope Valley territory in the second quarter.

Shawn Nakamura kicked a 42-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 16-0 lead early in the second quarter. Nakamura missed from 50 yards a few minutes later.

Spencer scrambled for four yards and completed his first two passes before throwing an interception at midfield that set up Antelope Valley’s first score.

Spencer’s screen pass was deflected and grabbed by linebacker Eric Glover, who ran 32 yards to the Raiders’ 17. Four plays later, Tyree Booker, a freshman from Denver, scored from the one.

Mike Gleich hit Andy Rethi for a two-point conversion to cut Moorpark’s lead to 16-8 just before halftime.

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JC Scoreboard

Saturday’s junior college football results

* Valley: 30

* Santa Barbara: 17

* Santa Monica: 28

* Glendale: 7

* Southwestern: 37

* Pierce: 25

* West L.A.: 48

* Ventura: 17

* Junior College Roundup, C14