Musketeers whip Hart, Canyon awaits
Saturday's Northern Division title game at the Home Depot Center in Carson
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

MIKE COONS/Acorn Newspapers NO FLAG?-Delano Howell, left, of Hart tackles Moorpark's Darrell Scott by his face mask during last Saturday's CIF-SS semifinal playoff game at MHS. No penalty was called. Moorpark won 56-27.

Last Saturday sure was fun for Moorpark High offensive coordinator John Kidder.

Early in the day Kidder, a UCLA offensive lineman in the mid '80s, watched as his Bruins beat second-ranked USC in a monumental upset at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Then, before the Moorpark football team played Hart High in the CIFSouthern Section semifinals later that night, the MHS girls' basketball team defeated Newbury Park in the finals of the Moorpark Tip-Off Classic.

Kidder's daughter, Jessica, plays for Moorpark, although she's currently injured.

And just when it appeared things couldn't get much better, Kidder's offensive unit was nearly flawless during the Musketeers' 56-27 drubbing of Hart, a victory that earned MHS a trip to the Northern Division title game this Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Home Depot Center in Carson, where they'll face Canyon High.

"It was a great day," Kidder said. "Not only UCLA, but my daughter's basketball team won the tournament and we beat Hart."

It'll be Moorpark's third CIF championship appearance in school history. MHS won a Division X title in 1997 under the direction of current defensive coordinator Ron Wilford. Last season, Moorpark lost to St. Bonaventure 27-7 in the championship game.

Many Musketeers contributed to the victory over Hart.

Running back Darrell Scott rushed for 249 yards and scored four touchdowns. Quarterback Adam Barry completed 7-of-9 passes for 136 yards and three scores.

Providing the holes for Moorpark's offense were linemen George Halamandaris, John Martinez, Pat Carter, Daniel Reinhardt, Kyle Rainer and tight end Jake Lins.

"We like to establish the run and then get to the pass," Reinhardt said. "Our game plan didn't really change that much. We just went out there and did our job."

Wideout Nick Karam had 92 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns; defensive back Dakota Holland logged two interceptions and cornerback Josh Smith returned an interception for a score as the Musketeers found the Indians' end zone early and often.

Meanwhile, Moorpark defenders Tom Mouwen, Nick Sarrocco, Michael Grimaud, Tyler Smith and Grant Wright were busy putting the clamps on Hart's high-powered offense as MHS built a 42-0 halftime lead.

Josh Butler, Zach Trottier, Cameron McAteer and Casey Blum all helped apply defensive pressure for Moorpark in the second half.

"Coach Wilford is always good at blitzing," Butler said. "All week we worked on the blitz, and we got to them tonight."

Senior place kicker/defensive lineman Arturo Tamayo made a huge impact as well.

Despite converting only one field goal all season, and with strong winds whipping through the field during the game, Tamayo connected on attempts of 38 and 28 yards against Hart. He also made all four of his extrapoint attempts.

"I just felt like my kicks came together tonight," Tamayo said. "Usually I'm about 50 percent, but tonight everything came together as a team. It just clicked, you know."

Just moments after Moorpark had wrapped up the win, Smith's attention had already turned to Canyon, the No. 2 seed and a team that defeated Westlake 42-7 in the division's other semifinal. In the first game of the regu

lar season, Canyon beat Moorpark 33-14. The Cowboys also bested MHS in a preseason passing league scrimmage.

Smith said the Musketeers will be looking for revenge on Saturday.

"It's always exciting to play against Canyon," Smith said. "We have the same colors and our teams are very similar. We've got to find out at the Home Depot Center who's the better green, gold and white."