SO. SECTION DIVISION IV: MOORPARK BACK ON TRACK AT PERFECT TIME MOORPARK 28, CAMARILLO 0.

Byline: Matt Kredell Staff Writer

MOORPARK - Moorpark isn't Marmonte League champion and no longer can claim to be undefeated. But none of that matters in the playoffs unless the team lets it be a hindrance.

The Musketeers put the first loss of the season behind them, came out relaxed and grabbed back some momentum by beating visiting Camarillo 28-0 Friday in the first round of the Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

``We were coming off a tough loss, a loss that hit us hard,'' said Moorpark quarterback Eddie Garcia, referring to last week's game against Westlake for the league title. ``It's a lesson we all learned. We knew we had to bounce back. No one wants to lose any more.''

Moorpark (10-1), not expected to contend for the league title prior to the season, started off with a 9-0 record and came down to the final play of the game with perennial favorite Westlake.

This game never was in doubt, though the Musketeers took awhile to put it away. Wide receiver Dennis Pitta caught a career-high three touchdowns from Garcia, who also ran one in from 1 yard.

Moorpark made early mistakes but rebounded quickly. On the first drive, the Musketeers handed off to running back Cliff Cardwell eight times to take the ball to the Camarillo 18. Then Garcia tried his first pass of the game only to have it intercepted by Alex Leaupepe at the goal line.

Chris Dillon recovered a Mark Kawamoto fumble to get the ball back for Moorpark, and Garcia redeemed himself with his first touchdown to Pitta, a leaping 27-yard grab.

That one wasn't as good as Pitta's second score, another leaping touchdown deep in the end zone and over a defender.

``Eddie throws great passes so I can go up and get it, using my height as an advantage,'' said Pitta, who is 6-foot-5. ``This is the biggest game of my life, especially in the playoffs.''

Pitta caught four balls for 71 yards. Cardwell had 129 yards on 29 carries.

The margin was only 14 points at the half, but Camarillo (5-6) wasn't getting anything done offensively without quarterback Garrett Barlow, who missed the game with a pulled muscle in his back.

Backup Donald Brown missed on his first 11 passes before completing two short screens to running backs.

Kawamoto, the Scorpions' leading rusher, had no room to run without the threat of a pass. He had five yards on 10 carries. Camarillo totaled 44 yards in the first half and 110 in the game.

Camarillo also was without its best lineman, Andrew Mooney, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee last week against Oxnard, and safety Cason Gilmer.

``We missed a lot of guys, but we can't play at that caliber right now,'' Camarillo coach Charlie Festerling said. ``They play excellent defense. If they keep playing defense like this, they could win the title.''

Moorpark is shooting for a rematch with Westlake in the Division IV final.

``I know we were better than Westlake,'' Cardwell said. ``I know if we play them again, we'll win.''

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Camarillo running back Mark Kawamoto (27) finds some rare open space against Moorpark during Friday's first-round game.

Joel P. Lugavere/Special to the Daily News