Diners Club Defense Leads Moorpark Win

A hungry Moorpark College defense recorded the Raiders’ second consecutive shutout, 24-0, against Compton on Saturday at Moorpark.

Besides blanking the Tartars, Raider defenders will have their appetites satiated by steak dinners paid for by assistant coaches. Those same coaches bought dinners for the defense after last week’s 28-0 win over Harbor.

But the dining has brought about whining.

“The defensive coaches are whining,” Raider Coach Jim Bittner said after the defense held Compton (1-1) to 166 total yards, 38 rushing. “It’s the second straight week they have to buy each defensive player a steak dinner.

“The offense is whining, too. They think they deserve something. To be fair, I guess we’ll have to find a way to reward them.” Some steak tartare perhaps?

Michael Daniels was rewarded with more playing time when first-string tailback Dana Griffin injured his ankle in the Harbor game. Larry Roberts started and rushed for 57 yards on 12 carries, but Daniels came off the bench to gain 135 yards on 16 carries. His 23-yard burst off left tackle gave Moorpark a 7-0 lead four minutes into the game.

Two plays later, Willie Gutierrez intercepted a pass, the first of his two interceptions, at the Raider 21. Moorpark (2-0) drove 79 yards on 10 plays, capped by Dan Nagelmann’s 14-yard scoring pass to Frank Madrid in the corner of the end zone.

Daniel Eastman made the score 17-0 with a 44-yard field goal before intermission and tailback Kenny Durr finished the scoring with a two-yard run early in the third period.

Compton quarterback Damon Scott passed for 135 yards, connecting on 8 of 17 attempts.

Adriann Mann caught 7 passes for 137 yards and almost ruined Moorpark’s postgame feast. He took a short pass from Scott at the Raider 35 and was in full stride before being pulled down from behind by Gutierrez at the 20-yard line.