10 Things Moorpark High's Football Team Must Do to Succeed

1. Grant Rohach must provide leadership. It’s a given the returning standout quarterback is going to have another big year. After passing for nearly 1,900 yards and accounting for a total of 28 touchdowns last year—21 passing, seven rushing—he needs to help pull his teammates together if Moorpark is to survive in the grueling Marmonte League.

2. With two home games to open the season, the Musketeers need to get right to business and make a quick start. Last year, Moorpark lost its opener on a last-second field goal—a bad omen, as the Musketeers finished 6-6 and lost in the section quarterfinals after having made it to a final four times over the preceding five seasons. This year, the first game is next Friday against visiting Palos Verdes, and then competition in the 10-team Marmonte League begins immediately after with a Sept. 9 game against visiting Thousand Oaks.

3. Coach Tim Lins must do a great job pulling everyone together and getting the most out of his players. The veteran coach will need everything the kids have because Moorpark is expected to finish no better than fourth behind state powers St. Bonaventure, Westlake and defending section champion Oaks Christian.

4. Alex Tolliver needs to step up. He’s the only experienced receiver on what figures to be a passing team, having totaled 20 receptions for 282 yards and five touchdowns as a junior, and this season he figures to be a go-to guy. Some of the new faces on the receiving corps are Kenny Feyh, Brendon Hodgson, Chad Hanson and Tyler Collet.

5. When Moorpark gets close to the goal line, Rohach needs to pass the football to Feyh. The receiver is 6-foot-5 and a top high-jumper on the track team. He did not see much football action last season, but this year he is in Moorpark’s plans.  

“He’s kind of our go-to guy in the red zone and the back of the end zone,” Rohach said.

6. Moorpark should turn Aaron Stanton loose. The running back looked terrific in spot duty last season, rushing for nearly 600 yards and two touchdowns in limited carries, and this year the junior is the starting tailback. If he succeeds, it opens the door for everyone else.

7. Moorpark must do a great job blocking. That means returning linemen Anthony Peterson and Anthony Sarrocco need to step up and lead the unit.

8. Having built its reputation on a tough, physical defense, Moorpark again needs to play tough defense to keep up with all the high-scoring opponents in the Marmonte League and Northern Division. It’s a new Green Machine, and among the key hitters are defensive linemen Brandon Hughes, Tyler Puccio and Jayce Foster and linebackers Tony Mack, Bobby Eckert and Christian Dearborn.

9. Moorpark needs to find a kicker who is as good as last year's standout, Alex Nelson. A year ago, five games were decided at the end, and to endure another season like that, you need someone dependable to kick the ball through the uprights.

10. And finally, Moorpark must not be intimidated by the likes of St. Bonaventure, Westlake and Oaks Christian, all of whom have a bunch of NCAA Division I-bound recruits. It’s high school football, and you still have to do it on the field. The Musketeers must forge a comeback mentality and keep the intensity going even if they don’t go 10-0.