In a game that was mostly defense, the Moorpark Musketeers defeated the Valencia Vikings 17-10 in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Northern Division playoffs Friday at Dr. Paul Priesz Stadium.

The game was televised by SCVTV.

The Vikings (6-5) took the lead for the first time with 11:48 to play in the game when Brett Schreiber kicked a 35-yard field goal.  That made the score 10-9 Vikings.

Valencia then looked like it caught a break when linebacker Zach Kelley stripped the ball away from Moorpark wide receiver Kenny Feyh’s hands after a 20-yard reception.  Zelley returned the ball 37 yards.

But the subsequent drive stalled and Schreiber’s 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

Moorpark quarterback Grant Rohach then used two big plays to re-take the lead.  The first was a pass that went through the hands of Valencia defensive back Aaron Dominguez and into the hands of Moorpark wide receiver Alex Tolliver.  The result was a 37-yard gain.

A few plays later, Rohach was scrambling when he hit Feyh in the end zone from 36 yards out.  The resulting two-point conversion gave the Musketeers the lead 17-10.

After the Vikings offense managed just 30 yards of offense in the first half, Valencia was able to move the ball in the third quarter.  Trailing 9-0 to start the second half, the Vikings faced third and 11 from the Moorpark 36.  Junior quaterback Sean Murphy threw deep over the middle, where freshman wide receiver Jay Jay Wilson made a spectacular diving, one-handed catch to put the ball down at the one.  On the next play, Murphy took the quarterback sneak into the end zone to cut the lead to 9-7.

Murphy finished the night 14-of 29 for 157 yards and one interception.  Running back Ryan Gorman gained 34 yards on 12 carries.

On defense, Kelley finished with two fumble recoveries and cornerback Edmund Darko had an interception.

The Musketeers finished with 286 yards of total offense.  Rohach was 13-of-18 for 180 yards, a touchdown and an interception.