Shellshocked

Tony Altobelli

So much for that 71-point, thing....

Just as I was getting ready to bash the “so-called experts” on how

they picked the Dons so high in the Mission Conference Central Division,

they have to go and be so right.

Now what am I going to write about?

Pirate quarterback Jared Flint and Dons QB Grant Wagner aren’t the

only ones who need to ice down their arms after watching all the flags

fly in Saturday’s 52-6 OCC loss.

Calling a close game is one thing, but I think I actually saw someone

get penalized because their shoes were untied.

Well, maybe it wasn’t quite that bad, but you get the picture.

The fourth quarter had all the excitement of watching bread rise and

having the clock stop after every other play because of unsportsmanlike

conduct penalties on both sides, didn’t make the game any better.

It almost looked like neither team was familiar with where they were

in the game, with winless Santa Ana winning, and undefeated OCC losing.

On a positive note, the Bucs, when they were making tackles, can sure

hit, on both sides of the ball. The smacks on the colliding pads are

probably still ringing through the Santa Ana Bowl.

Coach Mike Taylor said at the beginning of the year that every team

the Pirates plays will remember them by their hits and even in a blowout

loss, I’m sure Santa Ana is a tad sore.

Speaking of Taylor, despite taking your first loss of your career,

thanks for being cordial after the game to those who have to ask

questions, namely me.

This next week will be the Pirates’ toughest in the noncoference as

they host the undefeated Palomar Comets Saturday afternoon.

Palomar brought Mt. San Antonio College back to earth with a 28-14

win, following the Mounties’ 61-10 win over Santa Ana.

I may be silly to say this, but if OCC can limit its turnovers to,

well, ZERO and give Flint more than a half second of protection and the

moons are lined up just right, it could be an interesting game. We’ll

see.

It was an unbelievable week for Mission Conference football, with a

whole bunch of shockers going on.

OCC was not the only “nationally ranked” team to fall by the

waste-side.

Fellow Northern Division foe, Long Beach City, ranked 11th in the J.C.

Grid-Wire, took it on the chin against Fullerton, 26-7, at home.

The Vikings could only muster up 179 yards of total offense, including

minus-1 yard rushing for the entire game.

For 17th-ranked El Camino, life was just as puzzling against

Saddleback.

After scoring 35 against Golden West and 50 points against Fullerton,

the Warriors could only muster up a touchdown in a 14-7 loss against the

Gauchos.

Adding to the goofiness, the week prior to the shocking wins,

Fullerton lost, 50-6, to El Camino and Saddleback gave up 42 points to

OCC.

If lopsided losses lead to shocking wins, watch out, Palomar.

With each team already having one loss to the Central Division, it

should be an interesting season in the Mission Conference, Northern

Division.

Congratulations to OCC’s track and cross country coach John Goldman

for being named the Orange Empire Conference’s Coach of the Year for

women’s sports.

Just make sure that Zoila is going in the right direction and everyone

has their shoes tied tight, John.

Only 51 days until the men’s and women’s basketball teams lace ‘em up

for their home openers.

The women will take on Mt. SAC at 5:30 p.m. and the men will take on

San Diego Mesa at 7 p.m.

It’s never too early to plan ahead.