Coming into this season after a 5-5 2015 record, there was an immense amount of optimism for the Moorpark College football team despite a previous average year.

This Moorpark Raider football team won the final four games in last year’s season. After week one of the 2016 season, that streak was extended to five games with a 25-6 victory over Pierce College, all the while coping with the loss of much of their starting offensive line.

Beginning right where they left off was a nice surprise for this program, led by third-year head coach Mike Stuart. In a prime position to bring this team back to relevancy, he made it clear that they wouldn’t settle for mediocre results.

“This team right here, you can tell there’s something special,” said sophomore running back Isaiah Johnson. “Coach Stuart is setting the foundation for this program to be successful for years to come, a legitimate powerhouse type.”

This team plays their hearts out, simple as that. In their week two loss against El Camino, the Raiders fought hard right down to the last play. One week later, they battled against top five ranked Long Beach City College until the final whistle blew.

This past week the Raiders were hindered by injuries which allowed Fullerton to stay undefeated in a blowout loss. As it stands, the current record doesn’t reflect what this team can do and they don’t know what can be.

What they do know is that at the root of this team, the man taking each snap is quarterback Kado Brown.

Brown began last season as the number three option on the depth chart, and by their game on Oct. 31, the job was his, in what he calls his “best, worst game.”

After throwing for three interceptions in regulation time of that game, Brown bounced back and led his team to a 41-35 upset win over Cerritos. Tallying 208 rushing yards and four touchdowns throughout the game, that last touchdown came in double overtime to win it at home.

“That’s when I knew we could do something special, I could lead this team,” said Brown. “I could embrace this offense and get everyone their touches.”

Growing up in Ventura, where he currently resides, Brown realized his love for the game at a very early age on the schoolyard.

Brown says that his father, John, has been the biggest factor in his life, and still has the greatest influence on him as a person. Brown’s first position in organized football wasn’t as a quarterback, but as running back, just like his dad. However, he realized that his natural spot was under center.

“I just fell in love with the position,” said Brown. “I don’t mind taking the fall in tough situations, I don’t mind that pressure.”

That passion took him to Division I level out of high school when he was awarded an offer to play at West Point for the Army Black Knights. Brown realized that academy life wasn’t for him, it didn’t allow him to be himself, and that’s when he’s at his greatest potential. He was granted his release from the academy following an illness.

Being a bounce-back from a Division I school, Brown found himself third on the depth chart when arriving at Moorpark College for the 2015 season, and in that Halloween night game, he took over.

What’s really astounding is the ability Brown has to remain selfless on and off the football field when it comes to the game and speaking of his teammates.

“I don’t feel like I’m more important than the next man,” said Brown.

A good quarterback knows his team; he appreciates them, and understands the value they have.

“Having Isaiah [Johnson] back there makes me comfortable, because he can lead a team in itself,” said Brown. “We have the weapons, we have great players across the board, and these guys make me better.”

This Raider football program led by a quarterback majoring in film with an eye for creativity knows how to bring that keen artistic sense to the field as well.

Talk to any player on this Moorpark Raider football team, and the mindset every week is to “start 0-0” so they never let the prior week capture their focus.

In the past three seasons, it might have been better to just forget about the team’s record altogether. Without a steady stream of talent, the product on the field has been another game opposing teams might have chalked up as a win before the opening kickoff ever took place.

Stuart and his players would like everyone to know something about them, and Johnson put it best.

“I want the other teams to know we’re coming, we really are coming,” said Johnson.