JC BOWL SCHEDULE INCLUDES MOORPARK.

Byline: Patrick Hipes Daily News Staff Writer

Three weeks ago, Moorpark College was looking at a losing football season. Now it's making travel plans for December.

The Raiders, who earned a share of the Western State Conference Southern Division title with an upset victory over Valley on Saturday, learned they will play host Santa Barbara in the Western State Bowl on Dec. 6 at Playa Stadium at 1 p.m.

The news culminated an up-and-down season for Moorpark (6-4), which won its final four games to make its 10th consecutive bowl appearance.

``We almost got aced out,'' Raiders coach Jim Bittner said. ``We feel fortunate to get into a bowl game. It was a struggle for us all season long. People outside of athletics don't always understand how much losing wears on you.''

Antelope Valley College (7-3), the Foothill Conference runner-up which finished with its best record since 1992, will play in its inaugural McDonald's Bowl the same day against Mission Conference Central Division champ Santa Ana (7-3) at 5 p.m.

It was the best possible situation for the Marauders, who were ready to offer local rival Valley a bid before the Monarchs lost Saturday. Instead, they face a Santa Ana team that won its final seven games after starting the season 0-3.

``I'm very pleased, because we didn't expect to get a conference champion,'' AVC coach Brent Carder said. ``For our first bowl game it is a good matchup.''

Valley (6-4) did not receive a bowl bid, meaning the Monarchs will miss the postseason for the first time since 1992.

In all, four WSC schools earned bowl berths. Southwest will play El Camino in the Strawberry Bowl, West L.A. will meet San Bernardino in the Southern California Bowl and Hancock, which knocked off Bakersfield two weeks ago, will play Long Beach in the Simple Green Bowl.

Bakersfield will host undefeated Mt. SAC in the Potato Bowl. The winner of which will meet the winner of the Butte-San Francisco CC matchup in the state title game Dec. 13 at Cal State Fullerton.