Moorpark Dedicates Football Season to Teammate

Moorpark High’s football team is dedicating the season to , a junior lineman who has been diagnosed with brain cancer after having a seizure on July 13, six weeks before the season opener.

Muñoz, 16, has been undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, and green bracelets bearing his name have been distributed among the players and the student body.

After feeling tired for a couple of days prior to being hospitalized, Munoz had a seizure in front of his mother, Julie Miller.

“He’s an inspiration to us because he goes through a battle every day that none of us could even imagine,” Moorpark quarterback Grant Rohach said.

Munoz’s story was featured on Monday and on television by Time Warner Cable during halftime last week in a 27-24 loss to Thousand Oaks.

“I can’t take the little things for granted in life. You just have to live life to the fullest,” Munoz said in the TV interview. “You’ve got to take the hardships as they come and fight through them.”

Miller has been relying and the support of family and fellow football parents to help her and her son through the ordeal.

“You just have to keep pushing forward, but sometimes, when I leave his room at 1 a.m., my emotions take over,” Miller said. “I’ve found a lot of support.”

There’s a web site you can visit to make donations and show support: http://talbertfamilyfoundation.org/pages/Austin.html.

MOORPARK  FOOTBALL READY TO REBOUND

After falling to Thousand Oaks for the second year in a row following a 29-28 overtime loss in 2010, Moorpark looks to get back on the winning track tonight at Newbury Park. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Both are 1-1. Moorpark defeated Palos Verdes 21-10 in the season opener before the loss to Thousand Oaks to begin the Marmonte League season, while Newbury Park started with a 17-7 win over Buena, then lost 9-0 to Simi Valley last Friday.

MOORPARK FOOTBALL COACH LINS HONORED

Moorpark football coach Tim Lins was inducted into the Cal Lutheran Hall of Fame on Saturday. Lins was a two-time All-American NAIA All-American in 1981 and 1982.

MOORPARK JC FOOTBALL LOOKS TO GET BACK ON TRACK

After a sloppy loss 44-17 football loss at Hancock last Saturday, Moorpark College’s football has been focusing on fundamentals in preparation for another game Saturday at Santa Barbara City College. Kickoff is 6 p.m.

“I think we could have won the game last week if eliminated our mistakes,” Moorpark coach Jim Bittner said. “As long as we can play better and protect the football, I think we have an excellent chance to win a lot of games. We’re a young team, and we dropped a lot of passes last week. Our receivers were a little over-excited, and they just need to relax and do their thing.

“It was a tough loss last week, but there’s no reason to stress out about it. I just hope the players respond.”