OCC FOOTBALL: Aired out

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - The matchup of Orange Coast and El Camino had all the

makings of a college football upset -- the underdog Pirates’ pestering

defense vs. the Warriors’ finesse offense.

However, El Camino’s passing game proved to be too much as it showed

up with big plays. Conversely, the Pirates’ offense was nearly absent as

they were shut out, 30-0, Saturday afternoon at LeBard Stadium.

Missed opportunities and an inept offense were more reasons for the

Pirates’ third straight loss.

“Somebody needs to step up in that group,” OCC Coach Mike Taylor said

of the offense. “These are tough times, but they’re steps hopefully

getting us ready for the latter part of the season.”

The Pirates recovered three El Camino fumbles in the first half, but

failed to convert the turnovers into points.

After OCC went three-and-out on its first possession, punter Eddie

Johnson sent a booming high kick to Joselio Hanson, who muffed the

return. Jared Kemp recovered for the Bucs and the offense needed just 40

yards to get a touchdown. They couldn’t score.

Johnson punted once again. This time, El Camino (3-0) handled the

punt. On the Warriors’ first play from scrimmage, running back Darin Pope

fumbled and the Bucs’ Johnnie Peeples gave his team another scoring

chance.

OCC, however, could not take advantage again as starting quarterback

Nick Higgs threw an interception.

El Camino converted OCC’s first turnover as the Warriors marched down

the field on a nine-play, 68-yard drive ending with Robert Hodge hooking

up with Devin Pitts on a 30-yard touchdown off play-action.

El Camino had rhythm in its offense throughout the game as Hodge threw

for 428 and four touchdowns on 25-for-36 passing.

Justin Simons replaced Higgs at quarterback after El Camino’s first

touchdown. But the Bucs still couldn’t create anything. And later Higgs

would return.

“We’re not getting it done with either one of them,” Taylor said of

the quarterback position. “But, I think Higgs will still be our starting

quarterback. Justin will probably still play, too.”

Taylor also said the defense could not stop the big play.

Three out of the four touchdown passes from Hodge were for 30 yards or

more. Twice he aired it out for 57-yard scores, one to Pitts and the

other to Mike Esparza.

The touchdown strike to Esparza came in the fourth quarter with six

minutes remaining in the game and the Warriors leading 23-0.

“They do that all the time, that’s (El Camino Coach) John

Featherstone’s way of football,” Taylor said of El Camino’s last score.

“That’s part of their offense. They’re not going to change it for us. I

don’t worry about those things. I’ve known John for a long time. And

that’s just him.”

Coach Featherstone said that Hodge made a checkoff at the line. He

realized Esparza had single coverage and made the adjustment.

“In a case like that, we’ll usually throw the ball short,”

Featherstone said. “But Robert saw Esparza break free and he just did

what he was coached to do.

“And Mike knows that I’m never going to be a guy to rub it in and run

up the score.”

Earlier in the game, after Hodge threw his third touchdown of the day,

El Camino went for the two-point conversion. Warrior’s back-up

quarterback and holder for the PAT threw an incomplete pass and the score

stayed at 23-0.

Featherstone conceded the play was not his coaching decision, but that

of his special teams coaches. He said his coaches wanted to experiment

and would later analyze the play on film.

“I was glad that they ran it,” Taylor said of the play.

Taylor did not show frustration of El Camino’s offense. He said that

the deep passes gave his young team a chance to work on coverage.

“We have a lot of freshman players,” he said. “They’re getting their

baptism at this point.”

The Bucs’ experience will be just as challenging this Saturday as they

go to battle against Mt. San Antonio, another offensively sound team.

Same time, same site.