ANOTHER ANDERSON IGNITES MOORPARK RUNNING BACK HELPS FUEL WINNING STREAK.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne  Staff Writer

MOORPARK - When Jazen Anderson graduated from El Camino Real High in Woodland Hills in 2002, there was no reason to think he should not follow in his older brother Jamal's footsteps and play football for Moorpark College.

Moorpark was 9-1 in 2002, won the Western State Conference and looked like the same type of dominant junior college program as it was when former NFL standout Jamal Anderson played for Moorpark and its Western State Bowl-winning team in 1992.

But things didn't go as smoothly for Jazen Anderson. Moorpark went 4-6 in 2003 and started this season 0-3 as Anderson was asked to switch from tailback to fullback.

Then came his opportunity.

While starting tailback Jason Napolean (Desert High of Edwards Air Force Base) was recovering from a deep thigh bruise over the past three weeks, Anderson was reviving his career and leading the Raiders to three consecutive wins.

``My father and my brother would always remind me that my opportunity would come,'' Anderson said. ``I just stepped up when the opportunity was given to me.''

Anderson rushed for 205 yards and one touchdown in last week's 28-26 upset of L.A. Harbor and was recognized as the Western State Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

But as gratifying as his individual success over the past month has been, Anderson said he is more concerned with his team's three-game winning streak.

``It's more important to put Moorpark back on top, like the season in 2002,'' Anderson said. ``I'm doing well, the team is doing well.''

Napolean will return to the lineup tonight against Ventura (4-2, 2-1) and share time with Anderson in the backfield. When Napolean was injured in the fourth quarter of a 16-13 overtime victory over Pierce four weeks ago, he was among the state leaders in rushing and kick returning.

He gained 136 yards on 24 carries against Pierce. But when Napolean went down, Moorpark's one bright spot seemed to have been vanquished.

At first, veteran Moorpark coach Jim Bittner didn't want to move Anderson to tailback because he had proven so effective at fullback.

``He was the last guy we were looking at because we needed him at fullback,'' Bittner said. ``But my son, who's the offensive coordinator, told me we should give him a look.''

Despite construction on the field and a mishap with the sprinkler system Thursday night that forced the team onto an artificial turf field for Friday's practice, there was a decidedly upbeat feel among the players after three consecutive wins.

``We just needed to click, both offensively and defensively,'' Anderson said. ``The coaches always knew that we had it in us. ''

In other games: College of the Canyons (6-0, 3-0) at Valley (2-4, 1-2), 7 p.m.; Pierce (2-4, 1-2) at Hancock (3-3, 1-2), 7 p.m.; Glendale (3-3, 2-1) at Harbor (3-3, 3-0), 7 p.m.

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com