It was a welcomed homecoming game this week for the Moorpark Raiders, as they upset the fifth ranked Bakersfield Renegades in an overtime thriller.
Coming out of a bye-week, Moorpark began conference play in what some call a fresh start to a season, because these are the games that ultimately decide who will make playoffs. This Raider team once again rode the coattails of their starting running back, Isaiah Johnson, who kept them in the game long enough to force overtime, and win by a score of 30-27.
In their game two weeks ago against Fullerton, Moorpark was trounced by 56 points, and this week’s matchup was one where they needed to get back to what they do best, feed Isaiah the ball.
It was a quiet start from Moorpark, who had a few stalled offensive possessions and things didn’t get any easier when wide receiver TJ Newborn fumbled on a kick return, giving the Renegades the ball on the Moorpark 43-yard line.
Bakersfield scored the first points of the game after a two-yard touchdown run by running back La Meshio Hill, although the extra point try was blocked by the Raiders.
The Renegades struck once more in the first half with 10:40 left in the second quarter, when quarterback Dalton Gallis connected with Jakell Tomlin for a 10-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 13-0 in favor of Bakersfield.
Many times this season the Raiders have been resilient, picking one another up when there’s a mistake made. On the ensuing kickoff, Raider kick returner DJ Farmer took the kickoff 100-yards for a touchdown, making up for the previous fumble by Newborn.
One major star in the conference is Bakersfield wide receiver, Derrick Vickers, and his name filled up the box score in Saturday’s game. Accounting for 387 yards, and two touchdowns, Vickers opened up the half with a seven yard reception for a touchdown with 9:30 in the third quarter.
Down 20-7 midway through the third quarter, Moorpark gave the ball to Isaiah Johnson who broke off a 41-yard touchdown run to bring the Raiders within six points.
Just as Moorpark had done earlier in the game following a touchdown, so did the Renegades on the following kickoff when Derrick Vickers returned one 93-yards for a score of their own.
Finding themselves in another comeback situation, Moorpark quarterback Kado Brown took under center to lead his team back from a now 27-14 deficit.
A failed fourth down conversion for Bakersfield gave the Raiders a relatively short field to begin with, but when Brown hurled a 43-yard pass to wide receiver Emmanuel Osuchukwu, it made the field minuscule. Brown capped off the drive with a four-yard rush of his own for a touchdown, although the extra point attempt was missed by kicker, Gavin Todd.
Osuchukwu credits his team’s attitude for their strong performance throughout this game.
“We’re just going to stay humble, keep working hard, one heartbeat one team. We’re all trying to play as a team.”
Needing a defensive stop, this Raider defense came up big when they forced the Renegades to punt on a pivotal drive late in the fourth quarter. Defensive line coach for the Raiders, Eddy McGilvra explained how this defense stepped up Saturday.
“I told my guys before this game, ‘this offensive line has only given up one sack in five games, we are going to be the team to break the trend, get after it.’”
This Moorpark defense went on to rack up five sacks on Bakersfield’s offensive line.
With less than three minutes to play, the Raiders took over, needing a touchdown to tie the game and force overtime, and they did just that.
After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was enforced, and a loss of four yards, Kado Brown and the offense found themselves in a second and 30 situation. On the next play Brown rolled out and threw a 52-yard missile to receiver Kade Scmitz, giving Moorpark a first down. The drive was eventually finished with a one yard touchdown run by Brown with 16 seconds in regulation.
Bakersfield won the toss in overtime and elected to defer, and on the first possession, Moorpark was held to a field goal from Gavin Todd.
The Renegades had their shot to win the game with a touchdown, or force a second overtime with a field goal, but on the second play of the drive, Raider linebacker, Jesse Landman who was positioned perfectly on the play, intercepted the pass ending the game.
The final score was 30-27, Raiders, in an absolute thriller of a game, which couldn’t have come at a better time considering conference games had just begun.
“This is the turning point for our season, we know what we need to do here,” said McGilvra. “ You have to give it up to these guys, they never quit, they leave it all out there every game, every practice.”
Moorpark will return to the field this upcoming Saturday, October 22nd, against College of the Canyons in a home game, kickoff at 6 p.m.
