OCC football: Pirates’ friendships lead to success

Steve Virgen

There are many reasons for the unexpected success of the Orange

Coast College football team. But, perhaps the greatest reason is the

camaraderie and fellowship among the players.

The Pirates (6-4), co-champions of the Mission Conference Central

Division and headed to the Strawberry Bowl to face Cerritos Saturday,

have lived true to their theme of the season: “One heartbeat.”

The friendships on the team are seen during practices and off the

field. Case in point, OCC’s starting linebackers, Martin Janzon, Dustin

Davis and Justin Blackard, have such different characters, but they get

along as brothers. Janzon is from Sweden, Davis is a local boy from Mater

Dei High and Blackard is from Nevada. But, when seen together off the

field, it would seem as if they grew up together.

The linebacker trio, the foundation of OCC’s defense, is just one

example of the Pirates’ team unity, a rarity in junior college football.

“What they did as a group in making friends and trusting each other is

so hard to get at a community college,” OCC Coach Mike Taylor said. “A

lot of times, it’s very self-centered on this level. But, the players

here became friends.”

At a time when friendships could have ended, the one heartbeat became

stronger after OCC scored just one touchdown in its first three games.

The Pirates’ offense sputtered and the defense played solidly, but

neither blamed the other.

With a game at Mt. San Antonio (No. 4 in the nation) next on the

schedule, the Bucs drew closer to one another and relied on each other to

pull off the upset as kicker Rob Pate, who never played varsity football

in high school, booted a 33-yard field goal with one second left for the

26-25 victory.

The win over the Mounties not only put OCC on the map, but gave the

Pirates hope. With offensive playmakers Nick Higgs, James Dawkins, Ben

Fredrickson and Justin Dale, they carried the momentum to Pasadena the

next week and pulled off another upset victory in thrilling fashion. And

this upset brought respect for the Pirates.

Mt. SAC Coach Bill Fisk attended the game to see what Pasadena would

do against the Bucs.

“They’re for real,” Fisk said that night.

The following week, with confidence brimming, OCC set a record for

most offensive yards in a game with 628 in a 55-21 triumph over rival

Golden West.

The Pirates won back the Victory Bell, a trophy given to the winner of

the game between the Rustlers and OCC. And the Bucs were singing and

dancing with their reward.

OCC’s swagger continued with yet another shocking victory, this time a

21-17 decision over eventual co-champion Palomar. The game featured an

offensive lineman, Adam Fisher, scoring a touchdown and Vince Strang III

catching the game-winning pass while staring into the sun.

The Pirates’ fifth win of the season made for even more excitement as

OCC went three overtimes with Santa Ana and finally won, 53-41. The Bucs

converted two touchdowns on fourth-down plays in each of the last two

overtimes and the game didn’t finish until defensive end Greg Smith

scored a touchdown on an 80-yard interception return on the game’s final

play.

OCC’s five-game winning streak ended against Fullerton. The Hornets’

trick plays spoiled the Pirates’ season and OCC’s unity was challenged

once again. With one game remaining, the Bucs dug down deep to find that

heartbeat and came out victorious over Saddleback.

The 32-18 victory was the last token required for a berth in a bowl

game and, within hours, the fare was accepted. And, OCC showed its

resilience and strength with proof coming from the victories over Mt. SAC

and Palomar.

OCC also had 12 players on the All-Mission Conference Central Division

teams.

“What they’ve done this year, with the conference we’re in, is truly

remarkable,” Taylor said. “And it’s not over. We’re excited to play

Cerritos. It will be fun for the college. It will be fun for the

community. And it’s a good step for next year, a challenge to make it

back-to-back.”

OCC will attempt to end its season with another statement as the

Pirates travel to Cerritos for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Falcons (7-3) are

ranked No. 18 in the nation by J.C. Grid-Wire. And that same publication

predicts Cerritos will win, 28-17.

“They’ve accepted the challenges that were put before them every

week,” Taylor said. “I know they will accept the challenge of playing

Cerritos. These guys will play their hearts out and that’s all that

matters.”