ORANGE COAST Pirates

Steve Virgen

At this time last year, the Orange Coast College football team

could hardly contain itself with its excitement for the 2001 season.

Fresh off their Mission Conference Central Division

co-championship, the Pirates’ coaching staff said OCC had completed

its best recruiting season in 16 years. One coach, offensive

coordinator Sean Ponder, stamped high expectations on the Bucs with

the following statement:

“This year we want to win the whole thing and go 10-0,” Ponder

said before the 2001 season. “That sets up a pretty high standard.

But it’s definitely attainable.”

All of that went for naught. Injuries, individualism and

inexperience accounted for the Pirates’ demise last year.

However, the 2002 campaign is a season of change. Ponder left to

coach arena football in Kansas. Doug Smith, the 14-year NFL veteran

who coached the offensive line the past two years, takes over as the

Pirates’ offensive coordinator. OCC also added defensive line coach

Scott Orloff, who was the head coach at Dana Hills High. He will

assist the Pirates’ head coach, Mike Taylor, who is also the

defensive coordinator.

The OCC wide receivers will also be new. There are no returning

pass catchers. Vince Strang, the speedy, small wide receiver,

transferred to UC Berkeley, as did tight end Brandon Hall, who had

only one catch in 2000, then burst onto the scene in 2001. Hall’s

ascension is now an example for all the Pirates this year. That sort

of rapid improvement is expected.

“It’ll be interesting this season,” said Taylor who enters his

fourth year with a 13-18 record. “We need to get better. We can’t

think of El Camino or any other team in the future. We have to get

better starting with the scrimmage (Friday). We need to be more

consistent. I think we’re better (than last year) across the board,

at this point. But we’ll see.”

Taylor has been on the OCC staff for the past 17 years.

Here is a position-by-position look at the squad.

Quarterback: Sophomore Jason Kripavicius has the advantage to

become the starter. Nevertheless, the race to become the opening-day

starter is wide open, Taylor said. Kripavicius, better known as,

“Krip,” is confident the job will be his. He’s 6-foot-3, 220 pounds

and has a strong arm. He was the back-up to Nick Higgs last year.

Kripavicius played in five games, completing 6 of 21 for 30 yards,

one touchdown and two interceptions.

Smith, the offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach Phil

Cooper want to narrow the starting quarterback race to two

candidates. Freshman Derek Aspinwall figures to be the second man

vying for the spot. Aspinwall grayshirted with the Bucs last year.

He’s small at 6-1, 170 pounds, but he’s capable of making the big

play. And, because the Pirates are learning a new offense, he’s

actually on the same level as Kripavicius in terms of becoming the

starting signal caller.

Freshmen Ricky Chavez, Ken Valbuena and Chad Schmigel are also in

the mix. Chavez (6-3, 170 pounds) is from Santa Ana Valley and

Valbuena (6-4, 230) also grayshirted with the Bucs last year.

Valbuena, who played prep football at Estancia High, worked hard to

improve his game, Taylor said.

Schmigel (6-0, 160), from Ridgecrest, is a long shot, but still

has a viable chance since no one has stepped up in a convincing

manner.

Running backs: Niles Mittasch, the 5-11, 195-pound tailback, is

the go-to-guy for the Bucs. The All-Mission Conference Central

Division second-team runner with smooth moves is soft-spoken, but

leads by example.

After he gained 774 yards on 153 carries for a 5.1 yards-per-carry

average with four touchdowns, Mittasch intensified his training

during the off-season. He competed with the OCC track and field team

and refined his first-step speed. That has translated into his

quickness in finding and attacking the holes.

Last year, he ran behind a rather talented offensive line, and

this season the big guys up front have improved, which should result

in bigger numbers for Mittasch. But statistics are of little concern

for the running back from Eugene, Ore.

“(The talent on the offensive line) makes me happy about the

season, but also I want to win,” Mittasch said. “I know stats mean a

lot, but the wins mean a whole lot, too, and not just for me but for

the rest of the team.”

Mittasch was also hesitant when he gave his outlook on the

Pirates.

“Last year I thought we were going to be good,” said Mittasch, who

led former prep teammates defensive back Jason Brooks and defensive

end Ryan Miller to OCC. “We look better, but I don’t want to jump to

conclusions this year. We all have class. We don’t have any

individuals on the team this year. Hopefully, we’ll get to know each

other better and everyone will come together.”

Mittasch, as well as Taylor, has been impressed with the

versatility among the running backs. Dan Hawkey, a 5-11, 185-pound

grayshirt, has also been a diligent worker in the off-season. He

broke off a 15-yard gain after taking in a screen pass during the

Pirates’ inter-squad scrimmage Saturday.

Sophomore Steven Mahelona a 5-10, 210-pound tailback is a rugged

runner, and is known as, “a stud,” Taylor said. Sam Weicks, from

Loara High, provides depth.

There’s also depth at fullback, where freshman Grant Melton (6-2,

235), out of Mater Dei High, is the leader of the mix. Sophomore

Billy Battle, freshman Harry Faciane and Tim Rebich will definitely

see action and Taylor doesn’t expect a drop off when they are in.

Travis Trimble, last year’s starting fullback, has not fully

recovered from the knee injury he suffered last year and he will take

the year off. Javon Smith, who would have been a sophomore with OCC,

transferred to district rival Golden West.

Receivers: Position coach Junior Tagaloa has quite a challenge in

front of him. There are no returners among the receivers.

But Taylor trusts Tagaloa and the wideouts will get the job done.

“Tagaloa is a task master,” Taylor said. “He keeps them focused

and barks at them when they don’t do the little things correctly.

They need that in their infant stage.”

Coleman Menke, a 6-2 185-pound freshman who redshirted his first

season at the University of Mary, an NAIA school in North Dakota, has

playmaking ability and figures to be a starter along with Ismael

Isais, a 5-10, 180-pound freshman. Menke played high school football

with Aspinwall at Great Falls High in Montana.

Menke said he has the confidence that he will transfer to an NCAA

Division I-A football team. He asked a few NCAA Division I-A programs

which community college would put him in the proper direction and he

said he kept on hearing OCC.

Darrell Walker (6-0, 170), from Fullerton High, will also have a

chance to crack the starting lineup, as will all of the young

wideouts. Walker is the son of Ken Walker, the former NBA player,

better known as “Skywalker,” who won the slam dunk championship in

1989. Darrell also likes to be called “Skywalker,” Taylor said.

Darryl West (6-0, 185), who transferred from El Camino, Tim

Gonzalez, Jacob Dutton, Andrew Taylor and David Bare will also be a

part of the rotation. Freshmen Jermane Snell and Nate Harriman, both

from Estancia High, have been working hard and are in the mix.

There’s also freshmen Andrae Smith, from Oklahoma, Geoff Sylvester,

from New Hampshire, Isaac Cruz, out of Calvary Chapel High, and

Antquan Washington, who is from Fresno and played at prep power

Clovis West.

Tight end: This has been the pride of OCC football. In 2000, Ben

Fredrickson earned all-conference honors and transferred to Missouri,

while last year’s Brandon Hall did the same and transferred to UC

Berkeley. The next in line for tight end success is up for grabs.

Sophomore Justin Rose (6-3, 226) has the skills to be the starter,

and he will take on healthy competition from teammates James Webster

(6-3, 245), Zach Nilsson (6-2, 235) and Dan Valbuena (6-2, 222).

Webster is out of Trabuco Hills High, while Nilsson played at Edison

and Valbuena grayshirted with the Bucs last year with his twin

brother, Kenny.

Offensive line: The offense starts and ends here. These are the

leaders of the offense, and perhaps the entire team. Sophomore center

Ed Fane (6-1, 275) and sophomore Patrick Afif, a 6-8, 318-pound

tackle, earned All-Mission Conference Central Division second-team

honors last year. They bring experience and a pride-in-your-work

mentality.

Keola Loo, who just as Afif, is rated high among junior college

football prospects. Loo played his freshman football season at the

University of Hawaii. Loo (6-1, 290-pound) has quickly drawn raves

from teammates and coaches with his work ethic and skill.

“He’s a mature football player,” Taylor said. “He played in five

games for (Hawaii). He’s been there and he knows what it takes to

make it at that level. The kids respect him.”

Sophomore Donnie Garcia (5-9, 215) returns for the Pirates. He was

on the 2000 team that won the Mission Conference Central Division

co-championship. David Caddin (6-3, 306), originally from Newport

Harbor High, will also be a force, as will Stephen Herring (6-4,

270). Freshman Dorsey Belford (6-0, 295) and Matt Ostiz (5-11, 250)

also figure to be in the rotation. Steven Russell, who starred at

Corona del Mar High last year, will grayshirt the season.

Ryan Pahua (6-5, 295) has transferred to Golden West.

Defensive line: Westman, an All-Mission Conference second-team

selection last year, tore his hamstring while trying to lower his

time in the 40-yard drive and is out for the year.

“Losing Westman hurt us,” Taylor said. “He would have given us

more leadership and he has been successful at this level. He’s going

to take a year off. We might get him to a university. He might be

able to get picked up on his freshman tape. Or, he could play for us

a again.”

Sophomore James Canetti, who also earned All-Mission Conference

Central Division second-team honors, will be depended on as a leader.

Canetti was deemed a non-qualifer by the NCAA clearinghouse when he

graduated from Torrance High. But there was a mistake. He found out

in the spring that “there was a mix up with my transcripts.” He was

recruited by Fresno State and Colorado as an offensive lineman. He’s

moved to defensive tackle, where the 6-0, 240-pounder has also drawn

interest from Division I-A programs.

Jesse Mahelona, a 6-2, 280-pound defensive end from Hawaii, has

been impressing Taylor, and so has Lamu Ta’afua (6-0, 280) from

Santiago High. Bryan Meers (6-3, 219), from Edison, and Miller, from

Eugene, Ore., will also be key contributors. Miller played at

Churchill High under Coach Jack Wigmore, Taylor’s brother-in-law.

Linebackers: Perhaps the most important element of Taylor’s

defense, the three linebacker spots will also bring excitement this

season. The leader of the pack, sophomore Dan Steinau, who earned

All-Mission Conference Central Division second-team honors last year,

injured his knee Saturday, but he should be ready for the season

opener Sept. 14 against visiting East Los Angeles. He led the Pirates

in tackles last year with 118.

Grayshirt freshman Andy Howe, from Irvine High, also figures to be

a big-time contributor. Sophomore Ricky Tovar garnered much

experience last year when Simmons and Travis Loidolt suffered

season-ending injuries. Freshmen Chris Cassidy, Rich Rinehart,

Sherrod Guidry, Harrison Smith, Taylor Schack, Beau Gertz provide

stability and depth. Sophomore Matt Pettit and Jason Burgess continue

to familiarize themselves with the defense and will be factors.

Freshman Fahid Jahid, originally from Costa Mesa, has resurfaced

after taking one year off. He’s been the surprise of camp, Taylor

said.

Secondary: The Pirates have improved here.

“We are way better,” Taylor said. “Our safeties are better than

they have been in a while. This is a better group than last year.”

At cornerback, Kelvin Beatty, from Detroit, figures to be a

playmaker, while Brooks and Stephen Turner are also expected to be in

the mix. Josh Gonzalez, just as Garcia, is back from the 2000 team,

after taking a year off. Adrian Calloway, a cornerback who improved

last year, has moved to safety and the 6-1, 186-pound speedster will

be counted on to make big plays. Nick Dominelli, a freshman, is a

transfer from Saddleback. He said he will be extra motivated when he

plays the Gauchos, Nov. 23 at OCC. Sophomore Andrew Bergsetter will

also play safety, and so will Una Latu, who was one of the hardest,

if not the hardest, hitters at St. Louis High in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Kicking game: Taylor said, the placekickers are solid. Sophomore

Mike DeHart should resume his role as starter, unless freshman Bryce

Sheridan continues to improve. Sheridan, from Costa Mesa High, has

also been impressing Taylor.

Nick Ross, who earned all-conference second-team laurels last

year, will resume his punting duties and Alex Vasquez could also see

some action.