Moorpark Breezes Past Compton, 56-7

Moorpark College wondered all week what to make of Compton’s three-point loss to first-place Harbor.

Were the Tartars that much better than their winless record?

No, it must have been a fluke.

Compton remained 0-for-the-1990s Saturday night, and host Moorpark wasted no time putting any fears to rest.

The Raiders scored 42 points in the first 16 minutes, then shifted to cruise control and went on to win, 56-7, in a Western State Conference Northern Division game. It was Compton’s 29th consecutive loss dating to the 1989 season.

The Raider defense set the tempo early, intercepting the first two passes thrown by Compton quarterback Enrique Arnero.

Eric Thomas returned the first 16 yards for a touchdown. Nick Estrada returned the second 16 yards to the Compton 13. Raider fullback Gil Carrillo ran for a touchdown on the next play.

Moorpark (6-0-1, 5-0-1, 2-0 in division play) also scored on its next four possessions.

Quarterback Corey Tucker ran 18 yards to make the score 21-0 eight minutes into the game. Three minutes later, Tucker connected with flanker Tim Blakeley on a 57-yard scoring play.

The pass to Blakeley was Tucker’s only completion in four attempts. He was limited to four carries (gaining 65 yards) as Coach Jim Bittner took extra caution to ensure his quarterback stayed healthy. “We don’t like to get in these kinds of games,” Bittner said. “We just wanted to run out the clock and get out of here without injury.”

A two-yard run by David McDivitt on the first play of the second quarter put Moorpark ahead, 35-0. Todd Preston, filling in for Tucker, added a one-yard score 55 seconds later, on the second play after Mark Smith fell on a Compton fumble.

Carrillo, who led all rushers with 66 yards in seven carries, scored from two yards on the last play of the half, pushing Moorpark’s lead to 49-0.

The Tartars (0-7, 0-6, 0-2) managed only 55 yards in offense but scored on a two-yard pass from Arnero to Tulua Schwenke.

Moorpark’s only touchdown of the second half came on an 11-yard run by Del Von McDaniel on the final play.