In Moorpark’s second of two straight road games, Nick Davis and company led the Raiders to a win at the Santa Ana Bowl against the Dons.
Moorpark handed Santa Ana their second loss of the year, bringing the Dons to (1-2). Meanwhile, the Raiders took first place in the northern conference, bringing their record to (2-1). The Raiders’ offense came out shooting with an uncharacteristic game plan, focusing on the aerial attack.
Moorpark scored on their first possession with 5 passes by quarterback Nick Davis, totaling 34 yards. Kicker Chris Taylor ended the drive with a 40-yard field goal, putting the first points of the day on the board. Moorpark went up 3-0.
Santa Ana quarterback Mike Chislock struggled to get anything going early after throwing 3 incompletions, and being sacked in three straight plays by Moorpark’s defense.
The Dons went three and out for two possessions, ending with a sack for 8 yards by Raiders’ defensive lineman Shane Henley.
With 4:23 left in the first, the Dons went with a different signal caller, quarterback Shane Truelove. Truelove led Santa Ana down the field, as he broke off a 24-yard option keeper, breaking tackles all the way into the end zone, scoring their first touchdown of the season. The Dons now lead 7-3.
After a touchback, Moorpark once again came out of the huddle heaving the ball. Davis completed 5 more passes, capping off the drive with a 9-yard laser into the corner of the end zone, hitting wide receiver Iheanyi Obinna. Moorpark runs up the score 14-7.
The heavy flow of passing plays was very unorthodox for the Raiders up until Saturday. Moorpark’s Head Coach Will Thurston addressed the philosophy change.
“Nick has always had it in him,” explained Thurston. “It was a matter of getting him comfortable with this offense, and being able to pass the ball with confidence.”
On the following possession, the Dons quickly moved downfield following a 25-yard scamper by Truelove and a 15-yard penalty on pass interference by Moorpark. The Raiders’ defense redeemed themselves, after holding Santa Ana to the 35 yard line, ending the first quarter.
Midway through the second, Nick Davis was picked off by Dons’ cornerback Allen Adkins, but Santa Ana failed to capitalize after Raider linebacker Travis Key prevented a first down.
The quarter remained scoreless after Raider kicker Chris Taylor missed a 53-yard field goal.
The only score of the third quarter came when Davis found running back Raymond Bolden on a roll out to the right. Bolden broke a tackle and found the goal line after a 35-yard sprint down the sideline. Moorpark found themselves up 17-7.
In the fourth quarter the Raiders stopped all three of Santa Ana’s drives, after Travis Key stopped 2 fourth down conversions, for no gains.
The Dons snuck in a field goal with two minutes left, bringing the score to 17-10, but Moorpark ran out the remainder of the clock, cementing their second win.
“It felt really great to win,” said Coach Thurston.” The guys earned it.”
The Raiders finished with 300 total yards on the day. Nick Davis threw for 240 yards, and running back Nate Gillard managed 48 yards on the ground. Running back Raymond Bolden led MC in receiving yards with 95.
The Dons managed a mere 170 yards on the day.
The Moorpark Raiders (2-1) come back home Saturday, Sep. 28, at 6 p.m. to host the (0-3) Allan Hancock Bulldogs at Griffin Stadium.
