If practice makes perfect, then the Moorpark College Raiders football team is looking to find out what perfection is going into the last weeks of the season.

The Raiders faced off against the Pasadena City College Lancers on Saturday Nov. 1. In this game, they were looking to turn around a three game losing streak, but were unable to as they fell to the Lancers 24-7. The Raiders are now knocked them out of any bowl game, and leaves them striving to win the Citrus Bowl Championship and end the season at .500 ball, according to head Coach Jim Bittner.

The Citrus Bowl is the rival match-up between the Ventura College Pirates and the Moorpark College Raiders. The Raiders have won this bowl for the past 15 years and look to keep the streak alive. However, some changes need to be made in their work habits. “You have to remember, everybody’s human, so they get down on themselves and they find a reason not to come to practice,” said Bittner. “I told them after the last game that part of the reason why we are losing games is because people don’t show up to practice.”

The Raiders’ defensive lineman Trevon Cole believes that a little maturity is all that the team needs to get a positive turn around in the next two weeks. “We have a lot of growing up to do,” said Cole. “We will get it together sooner or later, maybe next week.” The Raiders’ quarter back Donald Senegal believes that some of his teammates need to put their game into perspective. “I’m just telling people to make it important,” said Senegal. “I mean it’s football, I thought it was important but you know people have their priorities different, so we will see what happens.”

Bittner also explained why this season for the Raiders has been the epitome of football. “When they say that football builds character this is what they’re talking about, this is a tough situation.”