Moorpark College lost its football season opener, 43-16, to Long Beach City College, Saturday night at Griffin Stadium.
It was the team’s first recorded home loss to Long Beach in a decade.
“We had all the confidence in the world going into this week with Zack LaBar,” Head Coach, Michael Stuart said. “I told the coaches, ‘I don’t care if he throws three interceptions, or fumbles the ball, I want to give him that first half to show me something.'”
The Vikings controlled the game as the evening shadows loomed. Running back, Tyree Harris, returned a punt from his 30 yard line, and was well across the 50 before being tackled by the startled Raiders defense.
With the ball on the Moorpark 30 yard line, Harris bobbed and weaved through the Raiders defense to score the game’s first touchdown. The point after attempt was good, and Long Beach was in command, 7-0, early in the first quarter.
Moorpark’s defense settled down, but its offense sputtered. Sergio Garcia added two field goals for the Vikings in the second quarter.
“Going into next week, Zack LaBar, Christian Hammack and Kado Brown, are three quarterbacks competing for a starting spot at Chaffey College,” Stuart said. “It’s games like this where we lose, and people’s heads are down. We have great leadership and a good running game. We have to show that more.”
Long Beach struck again late in the second quarter, on a 30 yard pass from quarterback, Jacob Kalama, to wide receiver, Mike Wilson, making it 20-0.
Raiders freshman linebacker, Inoke Ngalo, intercepted a pass on his own 20 yard line with 3:18 left in the quarter. He scrambled and broke free of the pack to run for an 80 yard touchdown.
The partisan crowd erupted and the Raiders were back in business. Backup quarterback Christian Hammack’s two-point conversion pass to Aaron Lacombe was good, and the fans finally had something to cheer about.
“I read [the quarterback’s] eyes and he led me straight to the ball,” said Ngalo. “I capitalized on the turnover and carried it back for six. It was our first points on the board.”
The euphoria was short-lived, however, when Vikings quarterback, Jack Lowary’s nine yard pass to wide receiver Jerin Scroggins upped the ante, 26-8, before halftime.
It only got worse after the break. Dane Griffin’s two point safety raised the Raiders hopes, but Kwentin Polk’s blocked punt return increased the Viking lead, 36-10.
However, Hammack’s bullet to KeiWuan Miller in the end zone kept Moorpark’s flickering hopes alive with 5:59 left in the third.
“We were buzz-running on three tires, but didn’t have that fourth one to keep coming,” Miller said. “It felt good to score a touchdown, but it seemed like we were never coming close. This game was a big reality check.”
Harris drove home the final nail on a five yard run with minutes left in the third, to put the game away, 43-16.
“It’s going to hurt tonight,” Stuart said. “But they’ll come back Monday ready to work.”
The Raiders play Chaffey College at Rancho Cucamonga, Saturday, Sept. 12, at 6:00 p.m. The next home game at Griffin Stadium is against Ventura College, Saturday, Oct. 2, at 6:00 p.m.
