Citrus College ruins Moorpark College’s hopes of an eight-game winning streak, but doesn’t damper hopes for next week’s conference championship.
After seven straight games of victory, MC seemed unstoppable, but hot headedness and arrogance coming into Saturday’s game became their biggest enemy early as they fell short to Citrus College 20-15.
“In all honesty, we could’ve played a lot harder,” said receiver Lawrence Garcia. “We can’t lose games thinking we could just smash all over them.”
The first-quarter ran scoreless continuing into the second until quarterback/kicker Zach Shultis grabbed the first points with a 22-yard field goal at the 1:55 mark.
Awakening like the mighty Atlas, Citrus went on the offensive with a seven play drive, resulting in a touchdown connect between quarterback Blake Loncar and receiver B.J. Oyefesoin in the final seconds of the first half, putting Citrus up 7-3.
MC’s struggles looked over on the team as the high-powered offense closed out the first half with only three points.
Cockiness seemed to still permeate the air and MC couldn’t figure out a way around Citrus’s lock-down defense.
“Every game we have to come out like it’s a championship game,” said Nick Bruce, a safety for MC. “Everybody came out with a big head thinking it was going to be an easy win.”
Zach Shultis’ recent success continued, completing 20 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown but struggled at points throwing three interceptions.
These struggles were prevalent when asked about what different things he could’ve done.
“We just didn’t execute, we had a good game plan and we just didn’t execute,” said Shultis.
Chris Gant also resumed his usual stellar play with 86 yards in receiving and a touchdown.
MC fought hard to come back in the third as Shultis responded with his only touchdown, an 11-yard pass to receiver Chris Gant.
A 6-yard run from halfback Matthew Gentle put MC within 2 as the score sat at 17-15 Citrus College.
Citrus College responded with a big pass connection from Blake Loncar to receiver Rauley Zaragoza for 52 yards with 3:47 left.
That set up a 20-yard field goal that put one of the final nails in the proverbial coffin with the score at 20-15.
The other nail came with 19 seconds left as what hopes of a comeback were shattered by a quick interception on a radical pass from Shultis.
Although Moorpark didn’t have their head in the game, and at times played like a team that didn’t care, they are hopeful their best efforts will be on display at the next game.
MC’s next game against L.A. Harbor College is for all the marbles as these heavyweights square off for the WSC championship on Nov. 13 at L.A. Harbor College.
