The Moorpark Raiders football team struggled to get their offense moving, resulting in a 27-12 loss to West Los Angeles College Saturday night. It looked bleak from the start for the Raiders, especially for the offense, which struggled to produce first downs and scored only one touchdown.
The Raiders seemed to be headed in the right direction on the opening kickoff when kick returner Evan Yabu gave the team great field position, getting to the opponents 27-yard line. Like the rest of the night however, nothing went according to plan, as kicker Zachary Shultis missed a 39-yard field goal.
The West LA Wildcats wasted no time capitalizing on the missed field goal, scoring on a long touchdown run by their quarterback on the very first play. The defense looked confused by the Wildcats option formation to start the game, but was able to adjust to it as the game progressed.
The Raiders defense gave up 27 points, yet played hard. They looked physically exhausted towards the end of play because they were on the field most of the game. Meanwhile, the Raiders offense succumbed to 3-and-outs seemingly every possession, forcing the defense onto the field within minutes of them departing.
The defense played with spirit, taking down Wildcat players with gang tackles, intercepting and deflecting passes, and even blocked a field goal. However, their continual presence on the field allowed the Wildcats offense to wear them down in the second half.
Shultis was two for four on field goals, booting one at the end of the first half to bring the score to a respectable 13-6. This field goal would turn out to be the last points scored by the Raiders until late in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of reach.
Quarterback Ian Shultis started the game, but his passing attack never got going. Quarterback Darren McGee replaced him in the second quarter and played most of the game. He showed some flashes with his quick speed and his passing attack late in the game, firing a 24-yard touchdown pass to receiver Chris Gant for the Raiders’ only trip to the end zone.
