What comes after the bottle catches the lightning?

That's what the Moorpark College football team is asking itself, one year after a flurry of big plays combined with exceptional team chemistry to forge the Raiders' best start in 18 years.

Moorpark won its first seven games on its way to a 9-2 season. It earned its 16th postseason berth before falling just short, 31-29, at El Camino College — the eventual state champion and this year's preseason No. 1-ranked team in the nation by JC Gridwire — in the first round of the Southern California regional playoffs.

"We weren't really the biggest team, but we were a team," said defensive end Josh Douglas. "It was a band of brothers. We worked and played well together.

"Hopefully, we'll get going the same way this year."

Moorpark, ranked No. 17 in JC Gridwire's preseason national poll, aims to keep it going without graduated leaders like quarterback Cameron Merrill and linebacker Richie Martinez. Returnees like big-play receiver Conrad Meadows, safety Wesley Beavers and Douglas, who had 92 tackles and 10 sacks as a freshman, hope to step into the void.

"Richie really resembled that team," said Douglas. "He wasn't the biggest, but he was one hell of a playmaker. He knew exactly what to do in every situation.

"I feel now like that (leadership) position is wide open, we just need a bunch more people to start stepping up."

Last year's team will be remembered for the big bursts it made on both sides of the ball. Meadows, a first-team All-Western State Conference selection, made his name with a 87-yard touchdown catch as the Raiders broke College of the Canyons' six-year WSC unbeaten streak, 35-28. He finished third in the WSC in all-purpose yardage with 1,362 and seven touchdowns.

"It's always great to play with a guy like Conrad," said guard Jeff Wurts. "Most of the guys on our offense are fun to play with, fun to watch, really."

The defense and special teams units were just as explosive.

"That's the thing that really sets us apart from what I've experienced before," said Wurts. "People are capable of making plays from anywhere on the field. Our special teams, I've never seen anything like it."

Beavers, for one, blocked punts against Long Beach City and Los Angeles Valley, retuned one for a touchdown against Canyons, returned a fumble for a score against L.A. Valley and set up scores with interceptions against West Los Angles and Hancock.

"Wes saved us in a couple of big games," said slot back Shelton Banks.

Beavers and sophomore Jeremiah Casella return as key figures as the strong safeties in Moorpark's 3-3-5 system. The return of free safety Wiston Juene and cornerbacks Sam Hollis and Anthony Evans make the secondary powerful.

If sophomore tackle Ryan Sorensen can overcome a knee injury, the offensive line will also be a big strength. The group is anchored by four sophomores — Sorenson, guard Wurts, center Steven Josker and tackle Brandon Sofley — and Holy Cross (Worcester, Ma.) transfer Garrett Nolan.

The question mark sits at quarterback, as not only Merrill, who was leading the WSC in touchdown passes when he was injured in the Week 8 loss at Bakersfield, but also big-armed freshman Kyle Blum, have moved on.

"Getting two quarterbacks scholarships is pretty good for a problem," said offensive coordinator Jim E. Bittner. "It's tough, but it's also good. It's awfully hard to replace them."

Freshmen Donald Senegal, Bryan Randolph and Josiah Casella have done little to separate themselves during training camp, which means two or possible all three of them could play Friday night in the season opener at Santa Ana.

"Right now, it's really a tossup," said head coach Jim Bittner.

The coaches have a lot of work to do in the backfield, where there are eight exciting candidates to start at tailback. Jacksonville, Fla., native Nick Daniels, a transfer from Canyons, has been impressive, as have freshmen James Clay of Glendale, Jeffrey Enayo of Boston and Royal High product Marcus Hunt.

"It's a matter of getting them carries and some consistency," said Bittner, the coordinator.

Sophomores Banks and Daniel Moran are productive in the slot position and sophomore Daniel Wolverton has been moved to receiver to replace graduated

speedster Tony Washington. Big tight end Richie Accime, another Boston native alongside Juene, Enayo and defensive lineman James Brito-White, has a lot of potential.

"He could be a threat for us on offense that we were missing last year," said Bittner, the coordinator.

And, this time around, the road doesn't look as tough. The WSC has reshuffled its divisions, leaving Moorpark alongside Citrus as a favorite in the new Pacific Division. Former North Division powers Canyons, Bakersfield and Hancock now reside in the Mountain Division, meaning the Raiders' two toughest games may be the season-opening pair against Mission Conference foes Santa Ana and Saddleback.

A good performance Friday night in the annual scrimmage against preseason No. 1 El Camino has Moorpark believing it could make another run.

"It makes us even more hungry," said Beavers. "We're back to win it. We're back to get to the state championship."