The Moorpark College Football Raiders upset the highest ranked opponent ever in SCFA history, Saturday, with their 28-19 victory over Cerritos.
Before kickoff Saturday, at Griffin Stadium, the Raiders welcomed their sophomores for the final time. Every member of the Raider football team created a human tunnel across the west end zone. Among the nine graduating athletes were captains Travis Key and Max Leffler. They stormed through the tunnel, and embraced each other before kickoff.
Moorpark won the coin toss, and elected to defer.
Cerritos started on the 15, with running back Elijhaa Penny ripping off three consecutive runs totaling 32-yards. Quarterback Cody Clement completed two straight passes to Ainslie Johnson for 25 and 17 yards respectively. The next play from scrimmage runningback Penny charged into the end zone for 8-yards. After a blocked extra point attempt, Cerritos put the first points on the board 6-0.
The Raiders began their first drive on their own 25. Davis converted a 3rd and 6 on a slant to receiver Ray Bolden. Two plays later, Davis connected with Bolden again on a 25-yard fade, and quickly stole the lead, 7-6. The Raiders ran a total of ten plays in under two minutes.
Moorpark quickly got the ball back, after defensive end Safari Bolden recorded two straight sacks on the Falcon quarterback.
With 1:28 left in the first, Davis completed a pair of passes for first downs. Josh Robles finished the drive with a 17-yard touchdown run up the middle, extending the Raider lead to 14-6.
On the next Falcon possession, Kyle Rothschiller sacked Clement, and forced a fumble, but failed to recover the ball. After tremendous pressure on 4th and 5 on Clement, the Raider defense forced an incompletion and a turnover on downs.
Bolden completed a 14-yard catch, and then Morton broke off a 16-yard run and put Moorpark into the red zone once again. Davis then dumped the ball off to receiver Justin Coburn, who broke six total tackles, weaved through defenders, and danced into the end zone with a 31-yard reception. The Raiders once again increased their lead, 21-6.
Moorpark struggled offensively to start the second half, after going three-and-out for two consecutive possessions. On the second punt, Cerritos receiver T.J. Lindsey returned the ball 60 yards, and blasted down the sideline for the second Falcon score of the night, and shortened the lead, 21-12.
After the score, the mood on the Raider sideline changed, and frustration began to take over the sidelines. Head coach Will Thurston addressed the change in demeanor in the second half.
“We started slow in the second, guys started to get frustrated,” Thurston said. “But our men held it together.”
Cerritos running back Penny ran eight times for a total of 64 yards, and closed out the third quarter, putting the Falcons on Raider 15. Penny drove up the middle blowing by four Raiders, and dived into the end zone, bringing the deficit to 3, 21-19.
Moorpark got the ball back with 8:00 left in the game, and quarterback Nick Davis continued to air the ball out. Justin Coburn made a one handed catch for 18 yards, and then receiver Ray Bolden recorded a 15-yard catch of his own, and was brought down at the 12.
Three plays later, the Raiders drove the nail in the coffin, after running back Greg Morton crashed up the middle for a 5-yard touchdown.
Cerritos failed to get any momentum established, after Clement was sacked two more times, and linebacker Key tipped a pass on 4th down.
Moorpark ran the clock out, and did the unthinkable, beating the seventh best team in the state. Following the victory, it was announced that the Falcons were the highest ranked team beaten by Moorpark in the entire school’s history.
Sophomore Captain Key, explained what went through his mind once the clock hit zero, and he realized that he played his final game in a Raider uniform.
“It was a bittersweet feeling,” Key said. “But to go out on top like we did, it was amazing, we needed this.”
Nick Davis completed 18 of 24 passes for 230 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to finish the game. Runningback Greg Morton rushed for 140 yards, and one touchdown. Wide receiver Justin Coburn finished with 74 yards and one touchdown.
Moorpark finished the 2013 campaign at (5-5), doubling the number of wins from last season.
Key left one final message following the victory.
“We never gave up, and look at us now, an underdog win, baby.” Key said. “Go Raiders.”
Kevin McLemore runs through the Raider “tunnel” for his final game in his Raider career. (Chuck Champion)
Shane Bluhm makes a reception for a first down in the Raiders season finale. (Chuck Champion)
