Community College football: Win and they will come

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College football coach Mike Taylor

laughed at the idea. With a talented recruiting class, one of the best in

his 16 years on staff, do these Pirates have the ability to energize the

community and attract crowds?

“I would like to see Orange Coast College football be like it was back

in the 70s,” said Taylor, recalling the days when football fans would

fill the stands at LeBard Stadium. “I would like to see community college

football like it was back in the 70s when Orange Coast was national

champs in 1975 and also like it was with the great Fullerton teams in the

60s. I don’t know if community college football is ever going to be like

that again.”

If there is a chance for the crowds to return to OCC, Taylor and his

coaching staff did their best to make it happen.

The Bucs have actually increased their talent and depth at every

position, and versatility within leaves them with no weakness, such as

with injuries to their receivers, their depth at tailback has some

runners serving dual roles as ball carriers and pass catchers.

The incoming talent will bring much excitement, Taylor believes, but

the Bucs’ potential success hinges on the leadership of its returning

sophomores, who experienced a memorable season last year, especially

quarterback Nick Higgs.

The 6-1, 195-pound signal caller from Hesperia began last year as the

team’s fourth-string quarterback. But, he overcame obstacles and led OCC

to a Mission Conference Central Division co-championship and Strawberry

Bowl appearance.

“We were able to sneak up on people last year,” Higgs said. “But

that’s not going to happen this year. If we just play together like we

did last year, we should be fine. We have a lot of good athletes out

here, we just have to get the unity and heart that our team had last

year.”

Here’s a position-by-position breakdown:

Quarterback: Nick Higgs is 1,931 yards from being the school’s

career-leading passer, but that goal hardly seems important for the

sophomore. His most important focus is bringing the team together and

providing leadership.

A team-first player, Higgs also realizes his starting role is not a

total lock. He said nothing is ever concrete and he should know after

rising from unknown status last year.

“I would love to break the record because that would be a great honor

to hold the school record,” Higgs said. “But if it happens it happens.

I’m not going out there just to break it. I want us to do whatever it

takes to win.”

Higgs has been receiving healthy competition in back-up Jason

Kripavicius, a 6-foot-3 220-pound freshman quarterback who played at

Edison High, but did not play last year.

An ideal pocket-passer, Kripavicius, known as “Krip,” actually throws

just as accurately on the run. And he’s not afraid to tuck the ball and

run as seen in the Pirates’ scrimmage Friday. He crushed a defensive back

when he ran over a Santa Monica player for a 6-yard run.

The quarterback spot mirrors the rest of positions on the team. Depth

also results in the players maintaining their intensity to hold or attain

starting roles, Taylor said.

“At every position, the kids feel like they’re being challenged and

that’s what it’s all about,” Taylor said.

Spencer Ramsey, 6-0, 185-pound quarterback from Overland Park, Kan.,

is also in the mix under center. Also, Estancia High product Kenny

Valbuena and Geoff Etherson from Kennedy High, bring stability to the

position as they plan to sit out the year and will come back next year

with more strength and knowledge.

Running backs: Running-back-by-committee usually means controversy,

but among the Bucs’ tailbacks there is no other way to handle the depth.

Leonard DeRoche, a sophomore transfer from Victor Valley College, fits

the mold for a ball-control offense and should set up play action for

OCC. He is 5-10, 210 pounds and rarely goes down against one tackler.

Freshman Randy Gaither (5-9, 163), a quick-feet runner from Long Beach

Jordan, has the skills to be a gamebreaker. He is not short on

confidence. He believes he should be the team’s starter and aims to prove

so with each carry he receives.

The Bucs have another bullet in their metaphoric gun in Niles

Mittasch, an all-state running back and defensive back from Oregon. He

appears to be the most talented of the backs, but is still slow on

learning the collegiate game. He scored 42 touchdowns in 13 games for

Churchill High, but that was in a double-wing offense. He is now asked to

hit the holes quickly and with more aggression in OCC’s West Coast-type

offense. Mittasch, like most of the Bucs, is playing with much incentive.

He was recruited by Oregon State and Oregon and plans to make his way

back home after hopefully excelling over the next two years, he said.

Sophomore Jared Kemp will add depth and leadership. He is a

blue-collar type and just as the rest of the tailbacks, he welcomes the

competition.

Freshman Vincent Peterson, a 5-8, 160-pound speedster, provides

verstality. He is the model change-of-pace back and his pass catching

skills will add depth at wide receiver.

Also, the tailbacks could provide their talents on special teams as

Taylor puts a high value on field position that comes from kickoff and

punt returns.

At fullback, Newport Harbor High product Travis Trimble is the leader

of the pack. But, not by much. His sizeable frame, 6-1, 244 pounds, will

assuredly pave the way for the tailbacks. His blocking skills should also

provide depth at tight end. Trimble Returning sophomore Anthony Campo and

freshmen Javon Smith, Rebich and Harry Faciane also strengthen the cause

at fullback. Smith gives the Bucs more options with his receiving skills.

Receivers: Jonathan Jackson and Vince Strang III return, forming a

fast tandem. Both have spent the summer working out with Higgs and the

trio has developed a great rapport.

Jackson is becoming a more deceptive route runner and Strang’s speed

fills the void of last year’s wide receiver leader Justin Dale, who now

plays for Southwest Missouri State.

The other receivers are just as solid. Newport Harbor High product

Mitch Gray continues to improve. He caught a touchdown in the Bucs’

scrimmage Friday.

Alphonso Williams (5-7, 155), who was instrumental in luring

linebacker phenom Marvin Simmons to OCC, adds speed and is a determined

runner after the catch.

Yet, If the Bucs have a weakness, it might because the depth is

lacking from injuries.

Freshman Jose Aguilar, a receiver from Mater Dei, and Josh Furlong

(6-3, 206), are suffering from hamstring and back injuries, though minor,

the pain is nagging.

Freshmen Brian Contino, Karel Taska, Kenji Sanders and Tim Gonzalez

plan to make up for the injuries as they are all developing under the

guidance of wide receivers coach Junior Tagaloa, who is the career

record-holder in receptions (119), yards (2,113) and touchdowns (22)

after playing in 1986 and ’87.

Sam Jones and Kenny Higgins will sit out the year to get their

eligibility concerns in order. They should bring the Pirates more

excitement next season. Higgins caught a 60-yard touchdown from

Kripavicius in the scrimmage Friday.

Tight end: The tradition continues. OCC, continually featuring a tight

end in its offense, did not lose its weapon when its MVP Ben Fredrickson,

one of 12 all-conference players who are gone, left for the University of

Missouri. Enter Brandon Hall.

He was third in the rotation last year and has made the most of the

offseason. Hall, a 6-4, 230-pound sophomore, is actually faster than

Fredrickson was. He can also play receiver, when the Bucs bring out their

four-wide or two-minute drill sets. He caught a touchdown pass in

Friday’s scrimmage. He grabbed the pass from Higgs, a sideline catch, and

broke a tackle before crossing the goal line.

Freshman William Safotu will give Higgs another target, but Safotu is

currently injured. He dislocated his elbow during practice in August.

Justin Rose, a linebacker from Alaska, is also an experiment at tight

end.

Offensive line: The Pirates landed potential-filled linemen in Patrick

Afif (6-8, 295), James Canetti (6-4, 287), Nathan Carreno (6-1, 285),

Kelly Cook (6-2, 305), Matt Darsam (6-3, 275), Ed Fane (6-1, 262),

Stephen Herring (6-4, 265), Matt Ostiz (5-11, 250), Emil West (6-2, 298)

and Newport Harbor High product David Caddin (6-3, 315) who served with

the Marine Corps before joining the Pirates. Also, Brent Larkin (6-1,

289), Kurt Lishka (6-1, 300) and Apolonio Rodriguez (6-5, 310), who sat

out a year to set himself academically eligible, return.

Taylor said he has never seen so much strength here. Under the

direction of assistant head coach and offensive line coach Doug Smith and

offensive line coach Kurt Clemens, the men up front plan to provide Higgs

with his passing yards record and they want to put up big numbers in the

running game as well.

At left tackle Afif and Canetti should be interchangeable just as in

all positions on the line. Left guard has Fane, the younger brother of

last year’s tight end Gerard Fane, with Lishka in the mix. Higgs will

take snaps from the center Carreno. Larkin and Fane can also play there.

Larkin will play at right guard as Fane and Cook are also capable. Right

tackle features Herring, Rodriguez and Canetti providing the blocks.

“We’re happy with the offensive line,” Taylor said. “They’re all solid

guys.”

Defensive line: James Furtsch returns and will provide a rush on the

quarterback at defensive end. Also returning is Greg Smith, who scored

the game-sealing touchdown after an 80-yard interception in the

three-overtime victory at Santa Ana last year.

Freshman Russ Chamberlen, from Huntington Beach High, is also in the

rotation, along with Darryl Ortega (6-6, 235), who won the New Mexico

state championship in the 215-pound weight class for Rio Grande High last

year.

Defensive tackle features sophomore leader Dan Stringer, who offered

his No. 55 jersey to Simmons, but the linebacker declined, saying

Stringer had earned the number. Stringer did not play in Friday’s

scrimmage, but Taylor said he will be ready for Saturday’s game at East

Los Angeles.

Also at defensive tackle is Estancia High product Kyle Westman, the

Daily Pilot’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year last fall.

Freshmen Chris Render, Taylor Oxee and Tim Festa bring more proof that

the Bucs improved at every position this offseason.

The defense has yet to show its blitz packages this preseason, but

Taylor, who also serves as the defensive coordinator, is sure to unleash

the attack Saturday and the defensive line will be a big part of the

pressure.

Linebackers: Marvin Simmons has brought rejuvenation and confidence to

the Pirates. They now believe they can repeat as Mission Conference

Central Division champions, this time they don’t plan to share the title.

Simmons, tabbed as “probably the fastest player on the team,” by

Taylor, will man the middle and Taylor will give him every opportunity to

make plays that cause turnovers.

Simmons played for Dominguez High in Compton and then played his

senior year at Long Beach Poly, where he made 138 tackles, along with 45

tackles for losses, 15 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 4

blocked punts and 4 blocked PATs. Last year, Poly went 14-0 and won the CIF Division I championship.

He also played running back for the Jackrabbits, but Taylor said

Simmons’ chances in the offensive backfield would only come about if

there are a rash of injuries.

Instead of the 55 jersey, Simmons will patrol the defense wearing No.

1.

Freshman Richie Tovar, from Los Altos High in West Covina, is

developing at middle linebacker.

At outside linebacker, better known as the bandit in Taylor’s scheme,

features returning sophomore Brandon Thornton will patrol the strong

side. Also, Travis Loidolt, who Taylor said has made the most

improvement, will also contribute here. Loidolt can also play middle

linebacker. But, it will be hard to keep Simmons out of the game.

Freshman DeAndre Parks, also out of Long Beach Poly, is a late start

for the Bucs. He joined the team on the first day of classes at OCC.

At the other outside linebacker, filling in where all-conference

Martin Janzon used to play, is Irvine High product Andy Howe, who was

All-Sea View League and All-CIF on the Vaqueros’ 14-0 CIF Southern

Section Division VI championship team. Freshman Daniel Steinau and

sophomore Clay Busch can also add their talents here.

The depth at linebacker will also add strength to the special teams.

Secondary: Sophomores Tim Ogo (cornerback) and Barrett Burkett (free

safety) give the Bucs an added dimension on defense. Both are solid

tacklers. And both recorded an interception in Friday’s scrimmage.

The cornerback position has improved with the additions of freshman

Adrian Calloway and David Nettles. Calloway, a Murietta Valley High

product, will be looked to shut down the opponents’ top wide receiver and

Nettles, from Nevada, is a big-time hitter.

Freshman Jimmy Thorson, who missed Friday’s scrimmage because he was

in a car accident (no injuries), and Kevin Lloyd, strengthen the

cornerbacks.

At strong safety, returning sophomore John Freeth starts as sophomore

transfer L.D. Matthews is ailing with an injured lower back. Matthews,

like Furlong the receiver, is from Montana.

Dennis Sprague, like Lloyd, is also from Danville and is a developing

strong safety. Taylor said Andrew Bergsetter, from Edison High, is also

in the mix.

Kicking game:

The depth has even extended in the kicking game. Robbie Pate, who

kicked the winning field goal in the upset over Mt. San Antonio, returns.

Mike DeHart, a Huntington Beach High product, nailed two 48-yard field

goals in Friday’s scrimmage. He will most likely start.

Nick Ross, a Sonora High product, is a placekicker who can also punt,

and Ryan Holt, who also plays for OCC’s men’s soccer team, nailed a

48-yarder in Friday’s scrimmage.

The punters will have some huge shoes to fill as Eddie Johnson,

regarded as the school’s best punter is at Idaho State.

DeHart and Alex Vasquez continue to improve as Taylor will decide on

the starter just before Saturday.

“ (Coach Paul) Briggs is doing a good job with those guys because

Eddie is supposed to leave a huge void,” Taylor said.

Handling the long snapping duties will be freshman Brian Cristol, also

from Danville. A lacrosse lover, Cristol was hoping to play the sport at

USC, but he instead opted to be vital for the Bucs with his long

snapping.