Football: Bucs look to get offensive

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Perhaps a little sun is just what the doctor ordered

for the Orange Coast College football team.

After scoring only nine points combined in their first two games, both

at night, the Pirates (0-2) will bust out the sunscreen for a 1 p.m.

nonconference matchup against visiting El Camino (2-0).

The Bucs lead the Mission Conference’s Central Division in scoring

defense at 17 points per game. The biggest problem is trying to find the

end zone.

To make matters worse, OCC is going up against one of the toughest

defenses to score against in El Camino (11.5 points per game).

Last year, the Warriors silenced OCC’s powerful offense, 17-3, in the

Pirates’ season finale.

Returning for the Warriors is last year’s Northern Division Offensive

Player of the Year, quarterback Robert Hodge. In last week’s 28-20 win

over Santa Ana, Hodge completed 24 of 44 passes for 386 yards and threw

four touchdowns.

Hodge’s targets included wide receivers Devin Pitts (eight catches,

135 yards and one touchdown) and Dennis Jones (eight passes for 106 yards

and a touchdown).

El Camino is currently ranked fourth nationally by the J.C. Grid Wire.

Hodge will have his hands full on Saturday. The Pirates are ranked No.

4 in the Mission Conference in passing defense at 153 yards per game.