Community College football: Showing the Money

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Like Horatio Alger stories, the classics of rags to

riches, the Orange Coast College football team has risen from the depths

of mediocrity ... at least that is how it appears on paper.

In his third year as head coach of the Pirates, Mike Taylor and his

staff have completed the best recruiting class in his tenure, and one of

the best of his 16 years on staff.

The most notable recruit came after the first day of classes began at

OCC. Marvin Simmons, a 2000 Parade All-American linebacker out of Long

Beach Poly High, bounced back to the Bucs after the NCAA ended an

investagation into his SAT scores and ruled that Simmons could not play

for the USC Trojans.

Taylor and his staff also strengthened its defensive backs, running

backs and offensive line through recruiting, and combined with the return

of leadership from quarterback Nick Higgs, the Bucs will be in contention

to match last year’s effort, which brought a Mission Conference Central

Division co-championship and bowl berth. A huge upset at Mt. San Antonio,

26-25, propelled the Bucs to a five-game winning streak and supplied the

team with much confidence.

“I think talent-wise we have as much talent as we have had since I’ve

been at Orange Coast,” Taylor said. “In 1986, we had speed and faster

guys. But this is the most talented.”

Taylor said last year’s Bucs were overachievers earning a 4-1 Central

Division record. But those Bucs believed in the team-first mentality and

went all out on every play. Taylor’s focus is to instill the same

qualities into the 2001 talented group.

“We were back of the pack a year ago and came up with some big hits,”

Taylor said. “We’re not going to be able to sneak up on anyone this

season. So, one of the things I did when I became coach at Orange Coast

is to up the ante for our players and I think they have responded.”

The Bucs responded in the team’s summer workouts. Up to 100 players

attended training sessions this summer and the OCC coach is optimistic

the work will pay off.

The results came in a scrimmage with Santa Monica Friday. The Bucs

showed their weaponry through the air as Higgs displayed just how much

the summer has paid off. He threw six touchdowns and finished with 352

yards on 6 of 9 passing in just 30 plays.

There is, of course, no official scoring in scrimmages, but the 8-3

margin in terms of “touchdowns” was indicative of the strength of the two

teams.

OCC will look to continue its aerial assault as the Bucs play at East

Los Angeles Saturday at 7 p.m.

“We need to come together,” said Higgs, who is one of seven returning

starters. “We have the athletes, we just have to come together. What

happened for us last year is that we didn’t have the greatest of

athletes, but we came together. We want to continue what we started last

year with the team, to put Orange Coast at the level of a Mt. San Antonio

or an El Camino, which is difficult because they are the some of the best

teams in the nation.”

The scrimmage with Santa Monica produced much excitement, especially

for the offense. Last year the Bucs scored just nine points in their

first three games as Higgs, who began as a fourth-string quarterback,

shuffled in and out with Justin Simons. Still, Higgs finished the year

with 14 touchdown passes and his 2,073 yards is third-best for the

school’s single-season record. If he matches that mark this year, he will

break Jared Flint’s 4,003 mark for career passing yards.

The 6-1, 195-pound signal caller’s targets are dangerous and have

built a strong rapport with Higgs as all three starters are returning

sophomores.

Wide receiver Jonathan Jackson (6-0, 180), with deceptive big-play

capabilities, has become one of Higgs’ go-to pass catchers. The smallish

Vince Strang III (5-8, 145) has been clocked at 4.3 in the 40 and he also

aids in the return game on special teams. And tight end Brandon Hall, who

was third on the depth chart last year, has made huge strides in the

offseason and is ready to break out this season.

Higgs plans to receive time to find his targets from an offensive line

that Taylor calls the deepest in his 16 years with the Bucs.

Last year’s line, which featured all-conference selections in Gary

Lewellyn, Anthony Knutson and Adam Fisher, supplied much talent, but the

Pirates were thin. The 2001 OCC offensive line will be able to

interchange players and not miss a beat, Taylor said.

Talent on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield are the

keys to championship success, Taylor believes. The defensive backs return

Tim Ogo and safety Barrett Burkett. And the Pirates landed L.D. Matthews,

Adrian Calloway and David Nettles to strengthen the cause.

The Bucs have a tough schedule to match their talent. After opening on

the road at East L.A., the Bucs host L.A. Harbor and then battle for

three games against teams of the elite ... at El Camino, then home

encounters against Mt. SAC and Pasadena. OCC has also circled its date at

Palomar, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m., as a biggie.