Moorpark Readies for Football Opener Tonight

The Marmonte League football season is going to be tough again, just like last season, when Moorpark High went 6-6, finished in fifth place and eventually lost in the Southern Section Northern Division quarterfinals.

So it only makes sense that the Musketeers’ one nonleague game would be tough, too, and sure enough that’s exactly the case for tonight’s season opener against visiting Palos Verdes. Kickoff is 7 p.m., and Moorpark figures to be in for a stiff challenge, as Palos Verdes went 10-2 last season and advanced to the Western Division quarterfinals.

Then, after a bye week, it’s all business. Moorpark plays visiting Thousand Oaks in the league opener Sept. 16, one in a series of challenging matchups that also include showdowns with state powers St. Bonaventure on Oct. 6, Westlake on Oct. 21 and defending Northern Division champion Oaks Christian on Nov. 4.

“Our team is looking good. We’re coming together,” quarterback Grant Rohach said. “Now it’s all about focusing on what we need to accomplish. There are a lot of good teams in the league, and it’s going to be a dogfight.”

After losing its home opener last year on a late field goal, Moorpark would love to start on a winning note, but it won’t be easy. Palos Verdes returns nine starters, six on offense including quarterback Zack Fixen, leading receiver Robby Kolanz and top offensive lineman Chase Eldredge. Fixen passed for 1,332 yards and 20 touchdowns last year, Kolanz had 28 receptions for 656 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Eldredge is 6-4, 260-pounder who has committed to Oregon State.

Palos Verdes prefers to run the football, and it will prove interesting to see if the Sea Kings have a new running back that compares to last year’s star, Marc Sasso, who finished with 1,689 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Rohach is Moorpark’s key player. He passed for nearly 1,900 yards a year ago while accounting for 28 touchdowns – 21 passing and seven rushing. He has committed to Iowa State, and he is trying to help Moorpark return to glory, as the Musketeers advanced to the section final four times over a five-year period from 2005 to 2009.

Some of Moorpark’s other top players are receiver Alex Tolliver, running back Aaron Standton, linemen Anthony Sarracco and Anthony Peterson and linebackers Christian Dearborn and Tony Mack.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Palos Verdes (0-0) at Moorpark (0-0), 7 p.m. – Two top teams go head to head in an attractive nonleague opener. Both return top QBs, as Palos Verdes has Robby Kolanz back, while Moorpark welcomes back Grant Rohach. Rohach participated in the nationally televised ESPN Elite 11 competition this past summer.