Community college football: Bucs look to break out of slump

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - If the Orange Coast College football team is looking

for confidence, it should look no further than last year’s Pirates. As

they attempt to break out of their four-game losing streak today, the

Bucs are desperately seeking confidence, a valued trait last year’s squad

held on its way to a Mission Conference Central Division co-championship.

Those Bucs overcame a three-game losing streak that included just one

offensive touchdown.

OCC (2-5, 0-2 in the Central division) will attempt to emulate the

past with a 1 p.m. conference game against visiting Santa Ana (3-4, 1-1).

The Bucs’ current four-game slump has come about by injuries, which

has resulted in a lack of continuity and unity, Coach Mike Taylor said.

The OCC coach also noted that the losses have definitely challenged the

Bucs’ confidence.

“For the next three weeks, we just have to make it happen,” Taylor

said. “We’re a lot like the Tennessee Titans. Things happen and you have

to find out a way to stick out your hand and grab the dirt, stop it from

rolling.”

OCC’s rushing leader Niles Mittasch, who missed last week’s game with

a neck injury, returns to the lineup. His presence should be most

welcomed by quarterback Nick Higgs, who has been receiving much pressure

this season, under center and on the sideline.

For the past two games, Taylor has been using back-up quarterback

Jason Kripavicius in the game plan, and against the Dons, the 6-foot-3,

220-pound signal caller with a strong arm will be used again.

Santa Ana, which broke out of its four-game losing streak with a 32-10

victory over Golden West last week, is led by running back Brandon

Fischer, who is No. 2 in the Mission Conference with 1,042 yards and

eight touchdowns on 177 carries (5.9 yards per attempt and 149 per game).

Ironically, the Dons give up 153 rushing yards a game.