Pivotal issue for Bucs

Steve Virgen

It seems for the first time in a long time, the Orange Coast

College football team is favored over Mt. San Antonio, as the two

teams meet tonight at Mt. SAC at 6 p.m. But, Pirates Coach Mike

Taylor knows better than that.

“We’ve only beaten Mt. SAC at Mt. SAC twice in the 16 years I’ve

been on the (OCC coaching) staff,” said Taylor, who is in his fourth

year as the Pirates’ head coach. “That’s a tough place to play.”

The Bucs (2-1) are ranked No. 14 in Southern California, while the

Mounties (1-2) are unranked and suffered a 40-14 loss at Ventura

before beating up on Santa Ana, last week, 38-7. In addition, Mt. SAC

has allowed 495 yards rushing in three games for an average of 165

yards per game, a weakness that OCC will most likely exploit.

The Pirates have been averaging 178 rushing yards per game, mainly

because of running backs Niles Mittasch (241 yards, two TDs, 46

carries) and Steven Mahelona (214 yards, five TDs, 33 carries), and

the OCC offensive line, which includes guards Keola Loo (6-foot-1,

290 pounds), Donnie Garcia (5-9, 315) and tackles Patrick Afif (6-8,

318) and Stephen Herring (6-4, 270).

Mittasch has been practicing throughout the week with a limp

because of a sore thigh, Taylor said. But, Mittasch plans to play.

Garcia has also been enduring some shoulder pain, but he should be

ready to go as well.

Garcia, as well as sophomore defensive back Josh Gonzalez, were on

the 2000 OCC football team which upset the Mounties at Mt. SAC. The

Mounties entered that game ranked No. 4 in the nation by J.C.

Grid-Wire, and the Pirates had scored just nine points in its first

three games. But, OCC won, 26-25, on a 30-yard field goal with one

second remaining by Rob Pate. The victory brought confidence and

motivation to the Pirates, who went on to win a share of the Mission

Conference Central Division championship and made a Strawberry Bowl

appearance.

Now, Taylor is hoping for the same type of magic, considering the

OCC offense hasn’t been especially productive in the passing game.

Freshman Derek Aspinwall will start at quarterback for the second

straight game. Last week, Aspinwall passed for 61 yards and completed

6 of his 20 throws. He did not commit any turnovers.

Only one OCC receiver recorded a catch, Geoff Sylvester, who is a

freshman like most of the Pirates’ receivers. Taylor is hoping to get

more production from his tight ends, a position that has delivered

key contributions for the past three years.

On defense, the Pirates are led by OCC sophomore linebacker Dan

Steinau, who earned Mission Conference Defensive Player of the Week

honors after his standout performance which led to the Bucs’ 28-10

win over visiting El Camino.

Steinau recorded a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown and

posted a team-high 13 tackles, two were solo with one for a loss and

the other a sack. Steinau, along with linebackers Fahad Jahid and

Chris Cassidy and defensive tackles Lamu Ta’afua and Jesse Mahelona

helped the Pirates hold El Camino to 64 yards on 33 carries, a 1.94

yards-per-carry average.

The Mounties are led offensively by receivers Delanie Walker (14

receptions, 125 yards, 3 TDs) and Calvin Byrd (14-215-1).