One of the replacement NFL referees in the middle of the Packers-Seahawks Monday Night Football is a community college referee from Santa Maria.

KSBY and the Santa Maria Times reported that Lance Easley, the ref who signaled touchdown on Golden Tate's controversial Hail Mary "catch" was the backjudge for last year's VC-El Camino game.

The Ventura College women's basketball team will end the calendar year as the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in both the Southern California and state coaches' polls. The 14-1 Pirates, who have topped both polls since Nov. 28, earned all 22 first-place votes in the final December edition of both polls Dec. 19.

VC hosts the three-day Ventura Optimist Club Holiday tournament, which includes No. 3 San Bernardino Valley and No. 14 Los Angeles Valley, this week. VC opens with No. 12 El Camino (6-3) Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Moorpark College women (7-5) open the Fullerton tournament against Consumnes River (7-3), the No. 6-ranked team in Northern California, today at 2 p.m.

The final weeks of the football season have played out like a "This Is Your Life" episode for Ventura College defensive coordinator Tim Hyde.

The defensive line coach at El Camino during the national championship run of 2006 and the unbeaten Mission League sweep of 2007, Hyde's defense forced three of El Camino's five turnovers in Ventura's 31-27 win at Murdoch Stadium Saturday night.

"That was huge (Saturday)," said Hyde. "That team we beat, they may go all the way."
The win earned the No. 7-ranked Pirates a berth in the Beach Bowl, sponsored by Joe Kapp Real Estate, Saturday night at the VC Sportsplex against No. 10 College of the Desert, which Hyde served as defensive coordinator from 2002-05.

"Watching Desert, that's a good football team," said Hyde. "They're big, strong, fast with a big-time quarterback and a huge offensive line.

"It's going to be a great game and for us to have it at our place is special."

Along the way to jumping out to a 17-0 lead at El Camino, Ventura stopped a fourth and 1 on its 20. Linebacker Masi Tuitama's 35-yard interception return pushed the lead to 24-7 late in the second quarter. Safety Scotty Wong's interception with 2:56 to play helped slow the Warriors' fourth-quarter comeback.

Neither Tuitama nor Wong practiced last week while nursing injuries.

Ventura finished the regular season ranked No. 5 in Southern California in scoring defense (22.9 points per game) and No. 3 against the run (86.1 yards per game). It was the second-best performance against the run in school history.

Hyde spent a half hour on the field after the game Saturday catching up with members of the El Camino coaching staff and still keeps in touch with friends on the Desert staff.

"I've known those guys 20-something years," said Hyde of the El Camino staff. "I left both places on good terms."

Print coverage: Ventura County Star, Palm Desert Patch, Daily Breeze, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Chico Enterprise-Record, Napa Valley Register

November 19

Southern California Football Association

Semifinals

National Bowl
No. 6-South El Camino (8-2) at No. 1t-S Mt. San Antonio (9-1), 1 p.m.

Southern California Football Association Bowl
No. 4-S Cerritos College (7-3) at No. 3-S Palomar (7-3), 5 p.m.

Division championship games

Central Championship Bowl
No. 8-S Golden West (6-4) vs. No. 18-S Long Beach City (5-5) at Orange Coast College, 6 p.m.

American Championship Bowl
No. 16-S East Los Angeles (7-3) at No. 15-S Santa Monica (8-2), 1 p.m.

Bowls

Beach Bowl, sponsored by Joe Kapp Real Estate
No. 10-S College of the Desert (6-4) at No. 7-S Ventura (6-4), 6:30 p.m.

Golden State Bowl
No. 5-S Saddleback (8-2) at No. 1t-S Riverside (10-0), 6 p.m.

Western State Bowl
No. 11-S Los Angeles Harbor (7-3) at No. 8-S Hancock (6-4), 4 p.m.

Northern California Football Association

Bowls

Bothman Bulldog Bowl
No. 8-North Diablo Valley College (8-2) at No. 7-North College of San Mateo (7-3), 1 p.m.

Capital City Bowl
No. 5-N Chabot (9-1) at No. 3-N American River (10-0), 1 p.m.

Graffiti Bowl
No. 4-N Butte (9-1) at No. 6-N Modesto JC (8-2) , 1 p.m.

Living Breath Foundation Bowl
No. 14-N Solano (6-4) vs. No. 11-N Hartnell (7-3) at Cabrillo College, 1 p.m.

Sierra Central Credit Union Bowl
No. 12-N Monterey Peninsula (7-3) at No. 14-N Yuba (6-4), 1 p.m.

Togo's Delta Bowl
No. 10-N De Anza (7-3) at No. 9-N San Joaquin Delta (6-4) , 1 p.m.

November 26:

Regional championship games

Northern California Football Association Championship at Hawaiian Punch Bowl
No. 2-N Fresno City (10-0) at No. 1-N City College of San Francisco (10-0)

Southern California Football Association Championship at TBD

December 10:

California Community College Athletic Association Football State Championship at TBD

Community College football
Ventura 31, El Camino 27
SCFA Northern Conference
Ventura 10 14 7 0 -- 31
El Camino 0 13 0 14 -- 27
First quarter
VC -- FG 35 Luna, 8:14.
VC -- Vizzi 20 pass from Smith (Luna kick), 7:59.
Second quarter
VC -- Reed 53 run (Luna kick), 10:00.
ECC -- Brady 12 pass from Herrera (Jarrin kick), 3:57.
VC -- Tuitama 35 interception return (Luna kick), 1:03.
ECC -- Anderson 21 pass rom Herrera (Jarrin kick), 0:24.
Third quarter
VC -- Reed 1 run (Luna kick), 5:15.
Fourth quarter
ECC -- Level 5 pass from Herrera (Herrera pass failed), 7:53.
ECC -- Brady 33 pass from Herrera (Clark rush), 5:46.
Team stats VC ECC
First downs 13 26
Rushes-Yards 48-261 24-94
Passing Yards 57 402
Comp-Att-Int 5-11-0 30-50-3
Punts-avg. 8-38.2 3-39.7
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 6-3
Penalties-Yards 5-25 6-45
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Ventura -- Reed 16-132, Caro 12-68, Smith 8-42, Barnes 9-33, Howard 2-(--5), Team 1-(--9). El Camino -- Walton 11-68, Capacchione 2-12, Herrera 7-5, Johnson 4-3, McCoy 0-6.
PASSING: Ventura -- Smith 5-11-0-57. El Camino -- Herrera 30-50-3-402.
RECEIVING: Ventura -- Vizzi 1-20, Rodarte 1-18, Taylor 1-15, Nixon 1-3, Howard 1-1. El Camino -- Brady 9-169, Shaw 6-51, Anderson 5-124, Level 5-38, Bierra 2-16, Johnson 2-9, Walton 1-(--5).
RECORDS: Ventura 6-4, 3-2; El Camino 8-2, 3-2.

Moorpark 35, Los Angeles Harbor 16
SCFA Western Conference
L.A. Harbor 7 14 7 7 -- 35
Moorpark 7 6 0 3 -- 16

First Quarter

LAH -- Elliot 79 interception return (Buccio kick), 6:48.
MC -- Robinson 65 pass form Owens (Ruhnke kick), 5:48.
Second Quarter

MC -- FG 27 Ruhnke, 14:09.
LAH -- Sala 78 interception return (Buccio kick), 13:00.
MC -- FG 35 Ruhnke, 10:52.
LAH -- Turner 74 pass from Smith (Buccio kick), 5:56.
Third Quarter

LAH -- Turner 71 pass from Biaz (Buccio kick), 4:19.
Fourth Quarter

MC -- FG 30 Ruhnke, 14:44.
LAH -- Biaz 14 run (Buccio kick), 10:06.
Team stats LAH MC
First downs 13 15
Rushes-Yards 42-49 34-99
Passing Yards 258 172
Comp-Att-Int 12-22-1 15-40-2
Punts-avg. 7-33.3 7-32.0
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-0
Penalties-Yards 11-100 9-50.
Individual statistics
RUSHING: L.A. Harbor -- Adams 16-21, West 5-18, Nichols 8-13, Biaz 7-8, Turner 1-1, Smith 4-(--6), Lakey 1-(--6). Moorpark -- Franklin 16-75, Looney 3-10, Choto 3-6, Owens 9-4, Robles 1-3, Sandler 1-1, Jackson 1-0.
PASSING: L.A. Harbor -- Smith 5-12-1-117, Biaz 7-10-0-141.
Moorpark -- Owens 13-38-2-163, Choto 2-2-0-9.
RECEIVING: L.A. Harbor -- Turner 4-175, Adams 3-17, Purvis 1-31, Harris 1-12, Avery 1-11, Nichols 1-8, Brown 1-4.
Moorpark -- Robinson 7-119, Franklin 4-16, Hutchins 2-10, Elmore 1-22, Lees 1-6.
RECORDS: L.A. Harbor 7-3, 3-2; Moorpark 6-4, 3-2.

The 48-0 shutout of Santa Barbara City was enough to see the Ventura College football team (2-1) climb two spots to No. 15 in this week's Southern California football coaches' poll.

The Pirates remaining seven games are all against teams in this week's Top 16.

Moorpark (1-2) fell out of the poll following its 44-17 loss at No. 10 Hancock.

There are a pair of big games Saturday as No. 1 Mount San Antonio (3-0) faces No. 4 Riverside (2-0) and No. 5 El Camino (3-0) faces No. 7 Los Angeles Harbor (3-0).

The final record is deceiving.

After three losses in its final four games, the Ventura College football team finished its season 5-5, tied for fourth place in the Northern Conference and will not be playing in a bowl this weekend.

Yet, considering the Pirates legitimately competed for a playoff berth against probably the toughest schedule in school history, it's difficult to nitpick Steve Mooshagian's first season as head coach.

"I thought it was s successful year because people didn't think we'd win two games," said Mooshagian. "I think we surprised almost everybody, including everyone in our league... We're two plays from being 7-3."

Eight of the 10 teams the Pirates played were ranked in the final coaches' poll Sunday and a ninth also received votes.

"A dozen kids are going to get scholarships out of those group," said Mooshagian. "I'm proud of what they accomplished."

Ventura performed well against two of the Southern California semifinalists, beating No. 3 Cerritos in Norwalk 28-21 on Oct. 16 and taking a two-touchdown lead into the fourth quarter at No. 4 Bakersfield Oct. 23, before falling in overtime 27-24.

"Our first two league games were against the two playoff teams and we should have won them both," said Mooshagian.

In fact, the Pirates were in all five of their losses. They were tied 27-27 with Fullerton with three minutes left in the third quarter, leading Chaffey 10-6 with three minutes to play, leading Bakersfield 24-10 with 11 minutes to play, tied 24-24 with Canyons entering the fourth quarter and trailing El Camino 35-31 entering the fourth quarter.

"The No. 1 thing is we didn't protect the football down the stretch, late in the fourth quarter," said Mooshagian. "A lot of it was just crazy bounces."

The season came undone in the fourth quarter, when Ventura outscored 63-7 in its five losses, which included backbreaking defensive touchdowns in its final three losses.

Game previews is here. Live in-game updates can be found here.

Moorpark 7 7 0 0 -- 14
L.A. Harbor 7 7 12 13 -- 46
FINAL
LAH -- Moore 31 interception return, Q1 9:11
MC -- Markham 62 punt return, Q1 5:30.
LAH -- Dayton 22 run, Q2 7:47
MC -- Markham 85 kickoff return, Q2 7:34.
LAH -- White 22 run, Q3 9:07
LAH -- West 53 pass from Dayton, Q3 6:21.
LAH -- West 19 pass from Dayton, Q4 9:34.
LAH -- Howard 23 pass from Dayton, Q4 7:05.
LAH -- Hyman 30 pass from Dayton, Q4 1:01.

El Camino 7 19 9 20 -- 55
Ventura 7 10 14 0 -- 31
FINAL
Dezerek Reed opened Ventura's scoring with a 1-yard TD run. David Brown's 30-yard FG pulled the Pirates within 14-10 early in the second quarter. QB Antavius Sims hit WR Tim Vizzi with a 38-yard TD pass to pull VC within 20-17 with 1:06 left in the first half. El Camino's Dashrone Lewis pulled in a 33-yard TD catch on the final play of the half. Sims had a 9-yard TD run and a 10-yard TD pass to Vizzi to pull Ventura within 35-31 entering the fourth quarter. But Ventura finished the season 5-5.

El Camino (1-8) at No. 10 Ventura (5-4)
VC Sportsplex, 1 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Canyons 37, Ventura 24; El Camino 29, Hancock 21
SERIES HISTORY: El Camino has won all seven meetings dating back to
1953. El Camino won the last meeting, 38-14, in 2004.
GAME FACTS: The playoff window may nearly be shut for the Ventura, but
the Pirates can become bowl eligible with a win. Success would also
make school history, as Ventura has never beaten powerhouse El Camino,
which has fallen on hard times this year due to forfeits incurred by
playing an ineligible player. Don't let the record foul you, the
Warriors are still tough. They are No. 4 in total offense (427.2 ypg)
and No. 6 in total defense (315.6 ypg) and coming off their first
official victory. Ventura QB Antavius Sims needs 94 yards rushing to
become the ninth Pirate to rush for 1,000 yards. Sims is also No. 2 in
total offense, with a school record 2,630 yards. LBs Brenden Daley and
Kenny Breaux are 10 and 11 tackles, respectively, short of 100 for the
season. DE John Lattimore is No. 2 in SoCal with eight sacks. CB
Kentrell Everett has four interceptions, despite playing just half the
season.

No. 12 Moorpark (6-3) at No. 11 Los Angeles Harbor (7-2)
Casey Field, 6 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Citrus 20, Moorpark 15; Los Angeles Harbor 53, Antelope Valley 48
SERIES HISTORY: Moorpark leads the series, 14-6, dating back to 1968.
Moorpark won the last meeting, 28-26, in 2004.
GAME FACTS: The six-game winning streak perished last week, but not
the Raiders hopes for another conference title. The Western Conference
can be won on the road tonight in Wilmington. The Raiders, who are No.
8 against the run, allowing 3.2 yards per carry, must stop the No. 1
ground game in Southern California. Behind RB John White (168 att.,
1,390 yards, 15 TDs) and a massive offensive line, the Seahawks are
averaging 274.4 yards and more than three TDs per game. White is No. 1
in all-purpose yardage (194.1 ypg), No. 2 in rushing and No. 2 in
scoring. Harbor is also No. 1 in sacks (32) and punt returns (15.7
ypr). Theron West has returned two punts for scores. Moorpark's secret
to success is easy to see. The Raiders are No. 4 in scoring defense
(21.3 ppg) and turnover margin (plus 6) and No. 7 in pass offense
(252.0 ypg). QB Zach Shultis is 95 passing yards away from the
2,000-yard mark. WR Chris Gant leads Southern California in receptions
(80), receiving yardage (1,127) and touchdowns (17).

Steve Burkhart was surprised this week when the Moorpark College women's volleyball team opened up ranked No. 6 in the initial state coaches poll.

"For me that's a little high," said the Moorpark coach.

But it's difficult to argue about the Raiders' start.

Moorpark improved to 6-1 Tuesday with a straight game win at West Los Angeles.

"I like the start and we hope we can continue it," said Burkhart. "We've beaten some good teams."

Moorpark's only loss came to two-time defending state champion El Camino, the top-ranked team in the state.

"We've got a ways to catch them," said Burkhart, "so there's some work to do."

All-State outside hitter Savannah Thomas has moved on to UC Riverside, but Moorpark returns key sophomores in outside hitter Una Siljegovic and middle blocker Rachel Olinyk.

"We relied on (Thomas) a lot last year," said Burkhart of the 2008 Western State Conference Player of the Year. "I think we have a little more balance this year."

Moorpark has been boosted by setter Olivia White, a La Reina High product who transferred from the San Francisco Institute of Art, and outside hitter Shakila Balkhi, a Simi Valley High product who transferred from the University of Newfoundland.

"That's about as far as you can bounce back," said Burkhart. "She's been the biggest surprise for us so far. She's been terrific."

Newbury Park High products Chelcy Westphal and Erika Smith, whose twin sister Rachel is playing at Cal Lutheran, have moved right into the lineup as freshmen.

They will all be needed if Moorpark is to retain its WSC North title.

"The league is going to be much better this year," said Burkhart. "Ventura has taken a big step up. Even a team like Oxnard (is looking good).

"Santa Barbara has already beaten two teams from the Orange Empire (Conference) in Golden West and Fullerton."

Ventura (4-4) has a strong freshmen class, including outside hitters Shelbee Younce (Buena High) and Chelsea O'Mara (Oxnard High), as well 6-foot-2 middle blocker Kayla Phipps (Buena)

Oxnard (4-0) is off to its best start in recent memory behind sophomore outside hitter Dominique Franz and freshman setter Vanessa Valdez. Eight of the 10 players on the Condors roster are from Oxnard.

According to the Daily Breeze, former Louisville quarterback Matt Simms, the son of Phil and the younger brother of Chris, has joined the El Camino College football team.

The Raiders have built up quite a relationship El Camino College.

Not only do the two teams meet each other in their one annual preseason intersquad scrimmage, they have met in the postseason in each of the past two years.

The powerhouse from the South Bay squeaked by Moorpark in a 2006 Southern California quarterfinal before marching on to a state title. Last fall, the Raiders knocked out the defending champion, pulling out a 42-41 overtime thriller.

As all teams in Southern California this fall, the two teams give up their traditional conference affiliations for the Southern California Football Alliance this fall. Former WSC power Moorpark is now in the National Division's North Conference while former Mission Conference power El Camino is now in the National Division's Central Conference.

Upon second viewing, Moorpark College head football coach Jim Bittner felt much better about his team's efforts in its scrimmage Friday at El Camino College in Torrance.

"I just finished looking at it again," said Bittner. "I was pretty depressed after it finished Friday, but I feel much better having watched the film."

According to Bittner, El Camino won the game portion of the scrimmage, 18-12, before tacking on another score during an additional period. Moorpark struggled to run the ball against a mammoth defensive front, but quarterbacks Tyler Robertson and Donald Senegal each threw scoring strikes.

"It was very difficult to run against them," said Bittner. "But we threw pretty well."

"Senegal is a guy we've been messing with. He wants to be a receiver, but we really need him as a backup quarterback and he did a nice job."

Robertson, who yielded the starting job to Bryan Randolph last August after suffering a season-ending knee injury in a scrimmage, found receiver Justin Bradley for a long touchdown pass.

Bradley is the son of Moorpark all-time great Freddie Bradley, whose 1,946-yard, 27-touchdown, 10-game season in 1990 is considered the Western State Conference's

"He's faster than Conrad (Meadows)," said Bittner. "He dropped one deep that should have been a touchdown and beat the guy deep again for a touchdown."

(More after the jump)