After a rough ending to a long football season, finishing 3-7, the Raiders are ready to come back strong this upcoming season. The team has been having practices every day and working hard to achieve their ending goal.
Moorpark College head coach Micheal Stuart is excited for how this season will play out based on how recruitment has been.
“We are doing a better job at recruiting,” said Stuart. “We have doubled our numbers already for how many kids that have been on campus.”
This season, the majority of the players are returning but many new faces are joining the football team as well. Coach Stuart is looking forward to working with all the players and watching them grow throughout the season.
“We now have open enrollment for high school students who can come out and play with us starting April 2,” said Stuart. “We usually get about 20-30 high school players.”
Returning sophomore and 19-year-old Kyle Peterson believes that his teammates including himself have been working extremely hard during their practices.
“Working hard now will definitely give us an advantage when spring ball comes around,” said Peterson. “Getting the work in now will help us be better especially when the new guys come in.”
Transferring from Ventura College, newest Quarterback David Schmucker is excited for this season and has high hopes for his team.
“I am really excited to be here at Moorpark and show them what I am capable of,” said Schmucker. “I just want to get to a good bowl game or even a championship.”
Recently, the team has been training everyday to become stronger and better. They have morning practices which run from 7 to 8 in the morning where they practice at Griffin Stadium. Other practices includes lifting in the weight room, which runs in the afternoon for an hour and then the players train on the field afterwards.
“We have had a lot of personal records in the weight room,” said Stuart. “The guys are starting to get a lot stronger.”
Another new player, 20-year-old, Ivory Jackson, who came all the way from Amarillo, Texas, chose Moorpark College because he wanted to experience something new and be able to contribute to a good football program. Playing defensive tackle/defensive in, Jackson wants his team to go all the way until the end.
“I hope we can win a championship,” said Jackson.
Being from out-of-state can be a challenge, especially at a community college, for many students but Jackson expresses how the atmosphere of this team really let him feel at home.
“When I first got here, I knew absolutely no one and now these guys are like my brothers,” said Jackson. “Training every day with these guys has brought us closer and I am excited for this season.”
With football training going well and as expected, Coach Stuart said that the team is going to be in the same Division as last year.
“We have a little change in our conference, said Stuart. “Now Long Beach is in our conference and Santa Monica has moved down.”
Last season, the Raiders didn’t finish strong but this year Coach Stuart is hoping that the team can make a bowl game.
“We have a realistic chance of making a bowl game because the non-conference games are not as difficult,” said Stuart. “Bowl eligibility is definitely something we are pushing for.”
