Bucs win back The Bell

Steve Virgen

After a commanding 31-7 victory over Golden West, the Orange Coast

College football team charged toward the Rustlers’ sideline Saturday

night at LeBard Stadium. Even though the teams are rivals, this was

not a prelude to a brawl. Instead, the Pirates, ranked No. 19 in

Southern California, went over to grab what was rightfully theirs:

The Victory Bell, the award for the winner of the game between the

two schools.

“The Bell is back in our locker room for the next year,” said OCC

freshman free safety Nick Dominelli, who recovered a fumble and

returned it 50 yards for a touchdown and also recorded an

interception and took that back 95 yards for a score, both in the

fourth quarter. “We didn’t like how (the Bell) was on their sideline,

because I thought it was usually kept behind the end zone during the

game. Once the game was over we ran over to grab the Bell.”

In addition to Dominelli’s coming-out party of sorts, the OCC wide

receivers and quarterback Derek Aspinwall also broke through with

their best performances of the season. Aspinwall and the wide

receivers, as well as the Pirates’ opportunistic defense led OCC to

an 18-0 first-half lead en route to the victory in the Mission

Conference Central Division opener.

The Bucs’ defense and special teams caused four turnovers that

converted into 25 points.

“We played real hard in the first half; we smacked them in the

mouth,” OCC Coach Mike Taylor said. “Golden West is a special win for

us. It’s an emotional game.”

The Pirates (3-4, 1-0 in the Mission Conference Central Division)

displayed high emotion after a scoreless first quarter. It appeared

the Rustlers (0-6, 0-1), who won the Victory Bell last year, 35-24,

were driving to score the game’s first touchdown. But, OCC sophomore

Josh Gonzalez intercepted a Justin Grimm pass at the Pirate 15 and

ran it back 32 yards to provide momentum for the Bucs.

Four plays later, Josh Gonzalez’ younger brother, Tim, made a

34-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. Tim Gonzalez ran an out

pattern, caught the ball at the Golden West 22 and outran his

defender up the sideline for the TD.

“It’s about time,” OCC wide receivers coach Junior Tagaloa said of

his group. “Each week, since the beginning of the season, there had

been something holding us back. But we stepped it up.”

After the OCC defense forced a punt, the Pirates continued to take

advantage of their momentum and drove 86 yards in five plays, that

was capped by OCC freshman wide receiver David Bare, who scored on an

8-yard end-around. The connection of Aspinwall-to-Tim-Gonzalez keyed

the drive, as they hooked up for a 46-yard completion.

Then, on the ensuing kickoff, OCC sophomore Andrew Bergsetter

recovered a Golden West fumble. And, on the very next play Niles

Mittasch, the Pirates’ sophomore tailback, found paydirt after a

12-yard run. However, after two missed PATs and a failed two-point

conversion, the Pirates led, 18-0.

The Bucs dominated the clock in the first half, chewing up 20:11

to Golden West’s 9:49. The OCC running game also found success

throughout, as Mittasch ran for 149 yards and a touchdown behind an

offensive line that included sophomore Patrick Afif, who committed to

Washington State earlier in the week. The offensive line was led by

sophomore center Ed Fane, and strengthened by sophomores Keola Loo,

Stephen Herring and Donnie Garcia.

In addition to Mittasch’s performance, freshman Steven Mahelona

ran for 83 yards on 14 carries.

Dominelli scored his first touchdown with 7:12 left, when he scooped up a fumble by back-up quarterback Porter Lacey and ran it

back in the clear for a 50-yard score. Dominelli dived into the end

zone and was flagged for excessive celebration.

He also scored with 2:09 remaining after stepping in front a

receiver at the OCC 5, catching the ball, and then going the

distance. This time, Dominelli handed the ball to the referee after

the touchdown.

“He’s a real good player,” Taylor said of Dominelli, who

transferred from Saddleback College. “He’s picked off more passes in

practice than any other player over the past six years. He makes

plays.”