OCC football: Heartbreakers

Steve Virgen

SANTA ANA - The Orange Coast football team developed a theme to

describe its unity throughout its surprising season: One heartbeat.

At Santa Ana Saturday, that heartbeat was still pounding strong after

it nearly flat-lined.

The Pirates outlasted Santa Ana in three overtimes as Greg Smith’s

80-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed a 53-41 Mission

Conference Central Division victory.

“This team has heart,” said Smith, who intercepted Grant Wagner’s

third-down pass in the third overtime. “Our motto is one heartbeat and

that’s the way we’ve been playing.”

OCC overcame a 21-7 deficit in the second quarter, punched in 21

unanswered points and withstood a Dons’ comeback to earn its fifth

straight win.

The Bucs scored two fourth-down touchdowns in the second and third

overtimes, before Smith’s interception. In the first overtime, Santa Ana

(1-7, 1-2, in conference) and OCC (5-3, 3-0) traded field goals as OCC

kicker Rob Pate hit a 37-yarder and Jose Perez kicked one in from 38

yards.

Then, Wagner hit Derrick Barnes for a 5-yard touchdown and a 41-34

lead.

OCC quarterback Nick Higgs answered with a 13-yard touchdown pass to

tight end Ben Fredrickson on fourth down to send the game into the third

overtime.

OCC struck first to regain the lead as running back James Dawkins, an

Estancia High product, scored from 1 yard out on fourth down.

“It’s destiny,” said offensive lineman Gary Lewellyn, who dislocated

his left kneecap before halftime and had it popped back into place to

finish the second half. “We’re going to win one way or another. We work

hard for everything we get. We’re not going to be denied.”

The Bucs rushed the field after Smith’s interception and Lewellyn

collapsed near midfield. He laid on the ground, barely breathing as he

prayed. He said his kneecap has been popped into place after being

dislocated more than once.

He suffered the injury when someone chopped at his legs, he said. But,

Lewellyn continued to play and paved the way for Dawkins’ touchdown.

Lewellyn’s will to win mirrored the efforts of the Bucs on Saturday.

OCC remains in first place in the Central Division, despite losing three

fumbles to the Dons. Santa Ana scored after each turnover, the last

points came on a field goal with eight seconds remaining.

OCC’s Anthony Campo fumbled when he tried to gain extra yardage with

less than five minutes remaining.

“We made our share of mistakes,” OCC Coach Mike Taylor said. “We came

up big at the end. It comes down to how much you want to win; how much

you want to stay on the track and have a chance to win a conference

championship. And to do that you have to gut it up.”

The Pirates showed their desire to win in the overtimes, as well as

their 21-point second quarter.

With a 21-7 deficit, the Bucs started their comeback when Higgs found

Fredrickson for a 15-yard touchdown. Higgs finished the game with four

touchdown passes and 295 yards on 18-of-38 passing.

Fredrickson had seven receptions for 57 yards and two touchdowns.

OCC linebacker Martin Janzon drew the Bucs closer in the second

quarter, scoring on a 35-yard interception return.

Then, wide receiver Justin Dale, who finished with 114 yards on three

receptions, caught an 75-yard touchdown pass from Higgs.

“This was a big win, definitely,” Dale said. “We gave it to them with

those fumbles. I think we were a little ahead of ourselves. It was an

eye-opener for us.”