OCC finds its quarterback

Steve Virgen

SANTA MONICA --There was not much flair or flashiness, but the

Orange Coast College football team assuredly got the job done. The

Pirates answered several questions and strengthened expectations

during its scrimmage at Santa Monica City College Friday.

For one, the Bucs have found their starting quarterback. After the

scrimmage with the Corsairs, OCC Coach Mike Taylor named sophomore

Jason Kripavicius the starting signal caller for the Bucs’ season

opener against visiting East Los Angeles Saturday at 7 p.m. The

quarterback position had been in the up in the air throughout the

preseason.

Taylor also said there will be no rotation with the quarterbacks.

“We don’t have that quarterback-by-committee thing here,” Taylor

said. “(Kripavicius) stepped up and he’s going to be our quarterback.

He’s a sophomore, the one who has been around the longest, and a big,

strong guy who has a strong arm.”

Kripavicius, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound sophomore, completed 5 of 6

passes for 91 yards and led the Pirates on their three scoring

drives.

The scrimmage at Santa Monica included 30 offensive plays for each

team, a PAT session and two 12-minute quarters of real game action.

During the first part of the scrimmage, OCC freshman Derek

Aspinwall started at quarterback. However, sophomore running back

Niles Mittasch, a second-team All-Mission Conference Central Division

selection, was the real news of the drive.

He nearly broke loose on his first carry, but was tripped up on an

8-yard run. On his next carry, a draw, he scampered for 28 yards,

energizing his loud teammates on the sideline.

“I was pleased with Mittasch,” Taylor said. “He’s a good running

back. (Steven) Mahelona is a good back. Hawkey played well. We have

some pretty good running backs.”

Mahelona, a 5-10, 210-pound freshman tailback from Hawaii, scored

the Pirates’ first touchdown on a 3-yard run. He also displayed

power, as he bowled over would-be tacklers to pick up 2 extra yards

on a 6-yard run. Mahelona finished with 40 yards on six carries.

Kripavicius was the quarterback on the scoring drive. He completed

one pass for 17 yards to fullback Billy Battle. Kripavicius also ran

for 8 yards on an option play, while El Camino coach John

Featherstone scouted the action. OCC will host El Camino Sept. 28 at

1 p.m.

During the final portion of the scrimmage, Kripavicius led the

Pirates on two more scoring drives. The Bucs “won” that portion,

10-7. Kripavicius completed 2 of 2 for 38 yards. He went to an

audible on second-and-four from the Santa Monica 25. He also

completed a 19-yard play-action pass to tight end Justin Rose.

Mittasch, who rushed for 61 yards on nine carries, ended the drive

with a 1-yard touchdown run.

The OCC defense came up with a turnover on the Corsairs’ ensuing

drive. Defensive back Stephen Turner outran a Santa Monica receiver

to the ball and made an over-the-shoulder catch at his own 1-yard

line.

The Pirates’ defense blitzed occasionally. The visitors had three

blown coverages and were beaten deep, and also gave up a 65-yard

touchdown run to James Jackson, a 5-11, 235-pound tailback from

Lincoln High in Tallahassee, Fla.

“Defensively, we did some good things,” Taylor said. “We were very

generic with our coverages. We were a little sloppy with our tackling

on the long run, but (Jackson) is a very good back.”

OCC sophomore kicker Mike DeHart nailed a 45-yard field goal with

seven minutes remaining and the Pirates’ defense held the Corsairs

scoreless the rest of the way.

Freshman defensive tackles Bryan Meers, Ryan Miller and Brian

Cristol recorded sacks for the Pirates.

Freshman defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona, the OCC running back’s

brother, came up with a tackle for a loss that set up a

third-and-long situation.

The Corsairs went 1-9 last season, but they have revamped their

team with the addition of Jackson and their quarterback David

Corrall, a bounce back from Vanderbilt.

Santa Monica showed rust, compiling nine penalties for 76 yards.

The Pirates had six penalties for 55 yards.

OCC linebacker Dan Steinau, who injured his knee last week, played

for the Pirates. He said he was at 80%.

Orange Coast freshman Kyle Collins, an offensive lineman, injured

his knee Friday, and Taylor said he would know more about the injury

next week.