The Mike Stuart coaching era will begin this Saturday, September 5 as Moorpark College will face Long Beach City College in its season opener.
“The transition from defensive coordinator last year to head coach this year has been different,” said Coach Stuart over the phone. “I’m lucky that I have such great assistant coaches who have made the transition seamless.”
Athletic Director Howard Davis believes Coach Stuart is the perfect fit for the program.
“I believe the football team this year will be a contender for the league title,” said Davis. “Coach Stuart has already done amazing things with the program and I love the direction he’s taking us.”
The football team’s first goal is to win their game on Saturday, but their ultimate goal is to win the league.
Entering the season, there will be 11 total returning starters. Seven on offense and four on defense.
Going into the season, the defense is what you want to keep your eye on.
Safety Jalin Burrell and Defensive End Dane Griffin are the two defensive players Coach Stuart feels are likely to play at a Division 1 college school. Burrell and Griffin are also the two defensive captains on the team.
Jordan Flack, a defensive end in his second year, believes that the defense is going to be the best yet.
“I think the defense has gotten much better,” said Flack. “Our secondary in particular has really stepped up and become one of the best parts of our team.”
Coach Stuart also feels that the defense will be the standout on the team this season as well.
“Going to week one, our defensive back group I feel is better right now,” said Coach Stuart over the phone. “I feel we will be able to win the battle in the air because of our defensive backs.”
Wide Receiver Keiwuan Miller and Running Back Isiah Johnson are the offensive captains and two players who Coach Stuart feels will go far in football.
“Isiah and Keiwuan will definitely play in division 1,” said Coach Stuart. “Those two have endless amounts of potential.”
This Saturday’s game against Long Beach City College will not be a cake walk for the Raiders, but it will be a gauge to see how well their season will go.
“Saturday’s game will be a dogfight,” said Flack. “We know they are one of the better teams we are playing this year, and with that being said it should make us hungrier to put a nice W on our record.”
The game this Saturday against Long Beach City College will be a home game for Moorpark at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and students get in for free with their Moorpark College ID.
