Moorpark Runs Over L.A. Harbor

In terms of chills and thrills, Moorpark College fullback Gil Carrillo competed with an unlikely source on a night he rushed for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

A teammate, Joe Lafirenza--the punter no less--provided the competition.

Indeed, host Harbor’s best hope on a Saturday night when it had its hopes of a championship dashed by the Raiders was the sight of Lafirenza jogging onto the field.

The Seahawks’ only points in a 35-8 loss to Moorpark came on a pair of punting attempts that never left Lafirenza’s cleat tops.

The first, blocked by Harbor linebacker Ray Alford midway through the second quarter, bounced out of the end zone for a safety. Another, only 3 1/2 minutes later, was slapped down and recovered by linebacker Robert Lyttle, who ambled 18 yards for a touchdown.

Still, the outcome was never in doubt. Moorpark improved to 7-0-1, 6-0-1 in the Western State Conference in winning its third consecutive Northern Division game. Harbor lost its second in a row to fall to 6-2, 5-2 in conference play and 1-2 in divisional play.

“They had a very good rush and I guess we weren’t prepared,� Lafirenza said of Moorpark’s punting woes. “It seemed like they all were in there after me.�

It probably seemed that way because they were.

Whatever the problem was, Moorpark didn’t solve it in the second half, either. Harbor blocked two more of Lafirenza’s efforts, but, fortunately for Moorpark, both plays were nullified by penalties.

Meanwhile, Carrillo saw to it that the Raiders didn’t have to punt very often. In 17 carries, he fell only 36 yards shy of Dana Griffin’s Moorpark single-game rushing record of 286 yards, set against Santa Barbara City in 1987.

“Our offensive line had the night of their lives,� Carrillo said. “The holes were there. They were so big my grandmother could have crawled through them,�

The holes were huge, but Carrillo also deserves credit for carrying the few defenders who weren’t on their backs on his. On an 80-yard touchdown run, he broke no less than five tackles.

Harbor came into the game allowing opponents 106.3 rushing yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry.

Moorpark led, 21-8, at the half and its defense made sure the Raiders never lost their advantage. Even with the help of a fumble and an interception on the Raiders’ first two possessions of the second half, Harbor could not score.

Maybe Moorpark figured it was better off turning the ball over than punting.