PONY Bowl Last Test for Moorpark

Moorpark College and Rancho Santiago, opponents in the first game of the PONY Bowl doubleheader at 1 p.m. today at Orange Coast College, are evenly matched offensively.

On defense, however, Moorpark holds a distinct advantage.

Moorpark, ranked ninth in the state by the JC Athletic Bureau, allowed 173.8 yards a game this season to lead Western State Conference teams. Rancho Santiago gave up 325.1 yards a game, which ranked seventh in the 16-team Mission Conference. Rancho Santiago had a school-record 26 interceptions, however.

The Raiders (9-1 overall, 8-1 in conference play), led by defensive linemen John Goslin and Johnny Ruiz, gave up just 700 rushing yards and posted 2 shutouts.

Moorpark earned a berth in the PONY Bowl by winning the WSC Northern Division championship. Moorpark tied Glendale for the division championship but defeated the Vaqueros, 20-13. Rancho Santiago is fortunate to be in the PONY Bowl after losing its last 3 games. The Dons (6-3-1 overall, 5-3-1 in conference play) finished third in the Central Division of the Mission Conference and are ranked 20th in the state.

“We’re just glad to be going to a bowl game,” Coach Dave Ogas said. “We were preseason picks to finish last in the conference, so the kids did a good job just to get here.”

The Dons averaged 397.4 yards and 20.1 points a game to lead the conference in offense.

Moorpark averaged 378.1 yards a game, second in team offense behind Bakersfield. Sophomore fullback Larry Roberts, the third-leading rusher in the WSC with 914 yards in 159 carries, is expected to lead the Raider ground game--ranked No. 1 in the conference.

Rancho Santiago has more speed than Moorpark, but the Raiders have a size advantage. “They have real good speed and excellent athletes in the secondary,” Moorpark Coach Jim Bittner said.