Orange County Community College Football : Bye Helpful This Time to Golden West Coach

In the past few seasons, Ray Shackleford, the Golden West College football coach, hasn’t been too fond of the bye his team gets in the schedule.

Shackleford’s complaint is not uncommon among coaches. Having two weeks between games disrupts a team’s rhythm.

But this season, Golden West has lost three starters--tackle Glenn Parker and guards Randy Goens and Kevin Fairman--to injuries. So the week off has helped the Rustlers get healthy.

Parker injured his knee during the summer and missed the first three games this season, but he is expected to play tonight when Golden West (1-2) opens South Coast Conference action by hosting Pasadena (3-0) at 7:30.

Goens broke his thumb in the season-opening loss to Bakersfield Sept. 12, and Fairman sprained an ankle in the loss to Orange Coast a week later.

“I’m not sure if Fairman and Goens will be ready to play (tonight),” Shackleford said. “But at least they are close and able to practice some. And having Parker ready gives us more depth.”

Vince Bonham, an all-conference center last season, along with replacement guards Todd Little and Dave Lannon and tackles Mike Hopper and Randy Flory, have done a good job for Golden West. The Rustlers are second in the conference in rushing, averaging 215 yards a game. The problem was the lack of depth.

“We would have been in real trouble if we had another injury,” Shackleford said. “At least we had a chance to get some people healthy with the week off.”

In other South Coast Conference games:

Fullerton (1-2) vs. Long Beach (2-1) at Veterans Stadium, 7:30 p.m.--Fullerton’s record is deceiving because the Hornets spent most of three nonconference games trying different combinations of players. Fullerton used four quarterbacks in the season-opening 27-17 loss to Rancho Santiago but has settled on alternating freshman Victor Williams and sophomore Kerry Severson. Fullerton has played better of late, and it almost upset Taft, the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, two weeks ago before losing, 31-27.

Andrew Greer, Fullerton tailback, has rushed for 235 yards in 48 carries, fifth best in the conference. Long Beach’s Darryl Le’Sure is fourth in the conference in rushing with 270 yards in 51 carries.

In the Mission Conference:

Saddleback (1-1, 1-2) at Riverside (2-0, 2-1)--Another inconsistent performance could do serious damage to Saddleback’s conference title chances.

Saddleback is having trouble defending against the pass and is giving up 276 yards a game, last in the conference. But the Gauchos are strong against the rush, allowing just 69 yards a game, second best in the conference.

The game is an interesting matchup because Riverside--averaging 147.7 yards a game on the ground, third in the conference--favors the run. Riverside is ninth in the conference in passing, averaging 143.6 yards a game.

Orange Coast (2-0, 3-0) vs. Grossmont (1-1, 2-1) at Grossmont High School, 7:30 p.m.--If ever there was an opportunity for a letdown by OCC, which is ranked eighth in the country, this is the week.

“We’ve played three backyard rivals and three very good football teams,” said OCC Coach Bill Workman, whose team has beaten Golden West, Rancho Santiago and Saddleback. “Now we have to play somebody far away and, being 3-0, our team might start to get a little too confident.”

Rancho Santiago (0-2, 1-2) at San Diego Mesa (1-1, 1-2)--When the season started, Rancho Santiago Coach Dave Ogas knew his team would have a solid offense. The defense was the question. After playing well in a season-opening 27-17 victory over Fullerton, the defense has struggled two straight weeks. OCC rolled over Rancho Santiago, 35-21, and Riverside gained 422 yards in its 34-21 victory last Saturday.

Rancho Santiago’s defense has been aided by sophomore punter Tom Peet, who leads the conference with a 39.6-yard average.