Moorpark Stuns No. 1 Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD — In his 16 seasons coaching the Moorpark College football team, Jim Bittner has seen plenty of spectacular plays and games.

But few probably compare to what he saw Saturday night as the Raiders upset the state’s top-ranked team, Bakersfield, 23-20, in a Western State Conference interdivisional game before 8,000 at Memorial Stadium.

“It’s one of the biggest (victories) ever (for Moorpark),” Bittner said.

The victory ended a 17-game conference winning streak for the Renegades and most likely will drop them from the top spot in the state and the No. 2 ranking in the country by USA Today.

It was the sixth home defeat for Bakersfield since 1988.

But Moorpark (3-1, 3-0 in conference play) had to hang on for the victory after taking a 23-3 halftime lead.

Bakersfield (4-1, 3-1) was driving for what appeared to be a touchdown with 34 seconds left when linebacker Robert Webb sacked Danny Henry near the Moorpark 20-yard line and forced a fumble. Linebacker Jeffery Maxey recovered to kill the threat.

The Renegades closed the halftime deficit quickly in the third quarter, scoring on their first two possessions on runs of seven and 85 yards by George Jones. They added a 37-yard field goal by Robert Nycz midway through the quarter to pull to within 23-20, but the Moorpark defense held off other late rallies.

Moorpark wasted little time taking a 6-0 lead when quarterback Damian Delfino connected with receiver Gregg Whitley on a three-yard pass play to cap a 74-yard drive on the first possession.

The Raiders increased the lead to 9-0 on a 42-yard field goal by Steve Sabbe later in the first quarter. Defensive back Doyle Holmon set up the score with an interception of a pass by quarterback Deon Price.

On Moorpark’s third possession, midway through the first quarter, Delfino found wide receiver Joaquin Evans at the Bakersfield five-yard line for a 36-yard touchdown pass play that gave the Raiders a 16-0 advantage.

“We had planned to play-action pass, which we did early but they started bringing everybody (on defense) so we couldn’t option-pass (in the second half),” Bittner said.

Then the Raider defense, which forced five turnovers, went to work.

With 8 minutes 47 seconds remaining before halftime, nose guard Jason Sandel caused Price to fumble with a hard tackle. Maxey returned the fumble 12 yards to extend the Moorpark lead to 23-0.

Bakersfield cut the lead on a 28-yard field goal by Nycz with 2:01 left in the second quarter.

Moorpark running back Gary Clemons had 120 yards in 24 carries, including a 57-yard run that set up the first Raider touchdown. Delfino completed six of 12 passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

Jones, the state’s leading rusher, had 181 yards in 16 carries.

Henry and starter Deon Price, who left the game because of an unspecified injury in the first half, combined for 11 completions in 19 attempts for 200 yards.

“They shut down our offense,” Bittner said. “We couldn’t do anything against their defense . . . I was just happy when they were running and not passing.”