Moorpark Making Move in Air

Nobody wore helmets or shoulder pads.

And it’s barely August.

But the L.A. Baptist High passing tournament had plenty of intensity Saturday, even if it was only one-hand touch.

Moorpark, which won the Division X championship last season and is moving up six divisions to join the Marmonte League, defeated Bishop Montgomery, 28-21, in overtime to win the championship.

Brian Porter scored from 10 yards on a third-down pass from Mark Gressman and the Musketeers won their first passing tournament title in school history.

“Too exciting for me,” Moorpark Coach Ron Wilford said. “I just want to put the pads on.”

Moorpark had to slow down Bishop Montgomery tight end Eric Torres, a 6-foot-8, 295-pounder who is being recruited by Notre Dame, Michigan, Purdue and several Pacific 10 Conference schools, and running back Stanley Wilson Jr., whose father, Stanley Sr., played for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Touchdowns by Wilson and Torres gave Bishop Montgomery a 14-0 lead before you could say, “Is it too late to go back to Division X?”

Moorpark, playing without injured starters Art Garcia (pulled quadriceps) and Jeremy Shoop (injured hip), trailed, 21-7, but scored twice in the final 11 minutes to force overtime.

Gressman, a second stringer last season who took about 20 snaps in games, threw accurately and patiently, including a 10-yard pass to Porter to pull Moorpark to within 21-14, and a nine-yard strike to Gail Martin in the back of the end zone with 3:30 left.

“I’m getting in touch with my receivers,” said Gressman, who replaces graduated senior Chad Willis. “I feel good.”

Tournament notes on regional teams:

* Birmingham: Howard Jones, an all-conference selection at linebacker last season, showed he can also play offense.

The heir apparent to the running back spot left open by the graduation of Emmanuel Evans, Jones hauled in several passes from long distance, including the winning touchdown from about 35 yards against Saugus in the third-place game.

* North Hollywood: The Huskies are back to the run-and-shoot for the first time since 1994 and might score some points in the Valley Pac-8 Conference with junior quarterback Billydee Payne.

Payne, a left-hander who loves to roll right and throw back across the field, had good zip on his passes and showed strong mobility for the Huskies, who beat Harvard-Westlake in the fifth-place game, 21-14.

* Saugus: The Centurions lost to Birmingham, 35-28, but they found a reliable receiver--6-4 senior Jerome Edwards, a center on the basketball team who scored two 50-yard touchdowns on passes from quarterback David Parker.

* Harvard-Westlake: Tight end Alex Holmes was present, but did not suit up for the Wolverines. Holmes has played in basketball and football leagues throughout the summer.

“The kid needs a little bit of a break,” said Harvard-Westlake assistant coach Chris Johnson.

* Oak Park: The Eagles were the only undefeated and untied team entering the championship round, but lost all three games Saturday and finished in a seventh-place tie with Poly.

* Monroe: DeAndre Phillips was sharp at receiver for the Vikings, who defeated St. Bonaventure, 21-14, for ninth place. But don’t think the Monroe double-wing has been retooled.

“I’m not smart enough to do anything else [but run],” said second-year Coach Sloan Bunting.