OCC football: Pirates take on Saddleback

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - With a chance to at least share the Mission Conference

Central Division title, the Orange Coast College football team will try

to take care of business when the Pirates host Saddleback today at 1 p.m.

OCC’s season can end with what many didn’t expect: A winning season

and a division championship.

The Pirates have not finished above .500 since 1993, the last time OCC

received a bowl berth, and they haven’t won a division title since 1990.

“We weren’t picked to win six games,” OCC Coach Mike Taylor said. “We

obviously beat some good teams this year. When we hold on to the ball and

lessen our mistakes, we are as good as anyone around.”

A victory today combined with Palomar and Fullerton losses would give

OCC sole possession of the division championship. But, chances for a bowl

game would still be slim.

Taylor said he is not concerned with polls and bowl hopes, only

beating Saddleback.

The Pirates’ bowl hopes faded when last week’s loss to Fullerton

dropped them to No. 16 in the state.

Saddleback (3-6, 2-2) defeated Golden West last week, 17-14, and the

Gauchos are also capable of beating the Bucs, Taylor said.

OCC dominated Golden West in a 55-21 victory when the Pirates set a

school record for most offensive yards in a game with 628. But, that

doesn’t mean OCC can hang up a division championship banner.

As Fullerton proved: Anything can happen.

Saddleback’s Gauchos will try to make something happen with their

running back, Keller Christensen, who ran for 118 yards on 18 carries and

caught two passes for 48 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown reception.

Also, quarterback Jason Wheildon is seventh in the division in passing

yards per game (199.8). He passed for 196 yards and two touchdowns on 14

of 28 passing last week. He’s also a threat as a runner as he rushed for

90 yards on 16 carries against Golden West.

“This is a big game for them,” Taylor said. “They’re a team that’s had

some problems, but they’re capable.”

As the Bucs’ regular season comes to an end, Taylor has been preparing

his sophomores with the opportunity for a future.

The game against Saddleback will be the last chance for sophomores to

showcase their talents to coaches and scouts of four-year programs.

During this week, Taylor said coaches have visited practices and are

seeking out players such as the linebacking trio of Dustin Davis, Justin

Blackard and Martin Janzon. Also, punter Eddie Johnson, a Newport Harbor

High product, leads the division in punting average and is a prospect,

along with others.