Coming into Saturday’s game versus Ventura, the Moorpark Raiders looked to take control of the second half of their season and avoid a loss in their 9th straight Citrus Cup game. However, their efforts were spoiled thanks in part to a huge game from Ventura quarterback, Jake Luton who threw for 394 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 42-28 win for Ventura.

It didn’t take long for the Ventura Pirates to get on the scoreboard, as they took an early lead on the 11th play of the drive when Luton connected with receiver Cam Taylor for a 35-yard catch and run.

A Moorpark fumble on the second play of the possession halted the Raiders instantly, and gave the ball back to Ventura on the Moorpark 47-yard line.

After a stalled drive from both teams, the Pirates once again had possession of the ball, and on the 5th play of the drive, Raider defensive back Mike Jones picked off a Luton pass returning it for 16-yards.

The turnover proved costly for Ventura, as Moorpark leaned on the ground game eventually finding the end zone when running back Anthony Mclain took a handoff for a touchdown knotting the score at 7-7.

On the ensuing Ventura possession, the lead changed once again after a 14-play drive ended in a touchdown. The very next Moorpark drive started and stopped when Ventura forced a 3-and-out.

As the story was for both teams, turnovers played a large role in this game, and one came on the Moorpark punt, when Pirate punt returner Vosean Crumbie, fumbled, giving the Raiders great field position.

Moorpark quarterback Kado Brown only needed two plays to punch the ball in for a score, when he completed a 9-yard pass to wide receiver Kade Schmitz.

Ventura went into halftime scoring touchdowns on two straight possessions while the Raiders were still struggling to find consistent offense.

Coming out of the half down 28-14, the Raiders once again went back to what they do best and allowed the running game to take over. The Raiders used 11 of 12 plays to rush the ball into the end zone to bring them into striking distance.

Moorpark got a chance to tie things up after linebacker Brett Herron recovered a fumble on the very next Pirate possession. However, that turnover didn’t hurt Ventura, after the Raiders were stopped on fourth down when a pass from punter Evan Benson to River Meza came up 1-yard short.

Starting with a short field, Jake Luton drove his team down to the Raider 9-yard line, where they capped it off with a touchdown run from Isaiah Brown, giving them another 14 point lead.

The Raiders looked to do what they had done in most of their wins this season as they stared at yet another late game deficit with hopes to spark some magic late.

Isaiah Johnson, the bell-cow running back for the Raiders saw action late in this contest, and his talents were badly needed. Kado Brown used his all-league running back heavily in their first possession of the fourth quarter, feeding the ball to Isaiah on 8 of 12-plays and eventually powering in for the score.

It felt as if this Moorpark team needed their defense to hold strong one more time to have the opportunity to tie this game up, but those thoughts were blown to pieces when a 32-yard strike from Luton to Kendrick Mallory extended the lead again to 14.

That last touchdown proved to be too much as Moorpark fell to the Pirates 42-28, almost certainly ending their playoff aspirations.

This Raider team is an odd, intriguing team that can control the clock with their many options in the ground game, but always seems to shoot themselves in the foot. The opportunities are there for Moorpark, but only having a strong rushing attack in games which they’re behind in isn’t an ideal spot to be in.

“They played their butts off. We had our times, we just got banged up at the end,” said Head Coach Mike Stuart. “We’re not as deep as Ventura. At the end, what are you going to do about it?”

The defense and special teams made plays; Mike Jones led the team with 10 tackles, also contributing an interception, and three pass breakups. As a defense they had eight pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and four tackles for loss. This Moorpark defense is prone to allowing big plays late in games, but it’s a lot to ask a defense to go out and keep some of these opposing offenses completely in check. If the defense makes plays to get the ball, it’s the job of the offense to say “thank you” and turn that possession into points in any way possible.

What’s needed for this 3-5 Raider team is to make the most of their opportunities with the ball in their hands. They’ll get another shot this weekend at home against Cerritos College, kickoff at 1 p.m.