OCC football: Pirates earn individual honors

Steve Virgen

The Orange Coast College football team may have surprised many with

its upset wins, division title, and Strawbery Bowl bid. But, there should

be little shock over the Pirates capturing 12 spots on the All-Mission

Conference Central Division team.

Five Pirates were named to the first-team offense, three to the

first-team defense and two each on the second-team offense and defense.

Also, OCC Coach Mike Taylor, in his second year, and his assistants,

shared staff of the year laurels, along with co-champion Palomar. But,

Taylor was more content with his players receiving honors.

“I’m not into the egos,” he said. “I want our kids to have success. I

want them to have a good experience at Orange Coast College and get them

ready for scholarships. Our kids have grown this year and they have

developed a community of good friends. I think that’s more important than

me being Coach of the Year.”

Tight end Ben Fredrickson, running back and Estanica High product

James Dawkins, wide receiver Justin Dale, offensive tackle Adam Fisher

and punter Eddie Johnson, a Newport Harbor product who led the division

in punting average (38.9) were first-team picks on offense.

Blackard, Davis, Dawkins and Knutson were also all-conference last

year.

OCC’s steady defense, which had a knack for the big play, was

represented by lineman Vance Babin, linebacker Martin Janzon and

cornerback Johnnie Peeples on the first team.

Linebackers Dustin Davis and Justin Blackard earned second-team

honors.

Gary Lewellyn, the 31-year-old offensive guard and offensive tackle

Anthony Knutson, were additional second-team honorees.

* Fredrickson, who caught 32 passes for 427 yards and three

touchdowns, was chosen unanimously.

“Ben is one of our best players at any position,” Taylor said. “He has

soft hands and is very athletic for as big as he is. I’m sure he’s going

to end up at a big college.”

* Dawkins was also a unanimous choice and has been one of the keys to

an improved offense. Last year, he was honored as a kickoff-return

specialist.

Last week, he ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries in

the win over Saddleback.

He has run for 642 yards and seven touchdowns this season and is fifth

in the division in rushing yards per game.

“In the past five weeks he has been one of our hottest players,”

Taylor said. “He’s caught fire. A very explosive, big-play guy. His past

five games has really upped his stock.”

* An offseason of hard work and a determination to play above his

physical stature has made Dale OCC’s big-play receiver this year. He

leads the Pirates with 38 receptions 629 yards and eight TDs. He also

rushed for 111 yards and one TD. Dale (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) even threw a

touchdown pass.

“(Dale is) probably one of the hardest workers on the field,” Taylor

said. “He’s made some great catches and great runs for us. He’s not very

big. He plays way bigger than what his physical abilities allow him to. I

wish I could put him on a stretch machine. If he was 6-2, he would be

recruited by everyone because of the tools he already has.”

* Fisher, a 6-6, 300-pound left tackle, along with Lewellyn and

Knutson, have built character on the offensive line, Taylor said. Fisher

originally had his sights set on UC Berkeley but turned his focus to OCC.

Lewellyn, a deputy in the Orange County Sherriff’s Department, brought

maturity to the team, Taylor said. And Knutson, who has been playing out

of position, has been solid all year.

* Johnson’s punts have pinned many opponents deep in their own

territory. His season best was 73 yards. He also played quarterback,

throwing for two touchdowns against Golden West.

Taylor said Johnson is being recruited by Tennessee.

“Eddie is probably one of the best punters the school has ever had,”

Taylor said. “He’s physical. Unfortunately, he punts for us all the time

and he punts at the short field, which brings down his average.”

* Babin’s play up front, at both tackle and end, has been one of the

main reasons the Pirates have been so tough against the run. The 6-4,

270-pounder picked up his play when Dan Stringer missed four games with

an injury, Taylor said.

“I’m as pleased with his performance this year as anybody on the

team,” Taylor said. “Vance stepped up and took those young freshmen who

are next to him to another level. He has all the tools to be an NFL

player.”

* Peeples, 26, collected 41 tackles and two fumble recoveries. And he

returned a kickoff 91 yards for a TD against Fullerton.

“(Peeples) brought along the secondary with Manny Adams,” Taylor said

of the former Marine. “The players respect him. He’s going to be a great

player.”

* OCC’s defense has been built Janzon, Blackard and Davis. They have

combined for 389 tackles this season. Davis, with a team-high 143 tackles

this fall, is 12 shy of breaking the Chris Clayton’s career record of

235.

“Davis just missed the first team,” Taylor said. “The down side to

having three great linebackers is that you can’t put them all on the

first team.”

Taylor said the linebackers meshed well and created big plays.

Janzon, who covers tight ends and can blitz, is quicker.

Taylor said Blackard is the run-stuffer, “the big guy in the middle”

who takes on an offensive linemen and pushes them aside to make the

tackle.

Taylor described Davis as a gnat because opponents couldn’t just smack

him away. “He’s just always there for the tackle,” Taylor said.