Football: Pirates crack national poll

Tony Altobelli

Coming off its first 2-0 start in nearly a decade, Orange Coast

College’s football team is ranked 21st in the nation, according to the

J.C. Grid-Wire.

The Pirates, led by sophomore quarterback Jared Flint have the Mission

Conference best passing offense, averaging 323.5 yards per game.

The Bucs’ 465-yard average of total offense ranks second in the

conference behind El Camino’s 506 yards-per-game.

Flint’s 46 completions, 587 yards and .667 passing percentage are all

conference bests.

“I was getting burned out playing football last year, so I had to step

back and make a decision on what sport I wanted to pursue,” Flint said

after Saturday’s 42-25 win over Saddleback. “Once I made the choice on

football, the guys have all rallied around me. This year, I’m definitely

more focused and that makes a big difference.”

Orange Coast will host top-ranked Palomar at home on Oct. 2 and No. 11

Long Beach on Nov. 6, before traveling to No. 17 El Camino to close out

the season Nov. 20.

Also near the top of the nation’s teams include Cerritos and Mt. San

Antonio colleges. Both were preseason top-25 teams and both will play at

OCC this season.

J.C. GRID-WIRE TOP 25 TEAMS

1. Palomar 2-0

2. Butler County, Kansas 3-0

3. Garden City, Kansas 3-0

4. San Francisco 2-0

5. Snow, Utah 2-0

6. Foothill 2-0

7. Sacramento 2-0

8. Navarro, Texas 3-0

9. Blinn, Texas 3-0

10. Jones, Mississippi 3-0

11. Long Beach City 2-0

12. Butte 2-0

13. Ricks, Idaho 2-0

14. Fresno 2-0

15. Bakersfield 2-0

16. Ventura 2-0

17. El Camino 2-0

18. Hinds, Mississippi 3-0

19. Dixie 3-0

20. New Mexico Military 4-0

21. Orange Coast 2-0

22. Chabot 2-0

23. College of Canyons 2-0

24. Rochester, Minnesota 4-0

25. Alan Hancock 2-0