OCC’s bowl game

Bryce Alderton

Even though the Orange Coast College football team will not play

in a bowl game this season, they can make it two wins in a row to

close out the season, giving both the sophomores and freshmen a sweet

taste heading into the winter months.

Coast (4-5, 2-2 in the Mission Conference Central Division) and

the Gauchos (7-2, 3-1 in conference) square off today at 1 p.m. at

OCC.

Both teams come off victories from productive offensive

performances. Saddleback squashed Golden West, 62-13, and Orange

Coast ended a two-game losing streak with a 37-21 victory against

Fullerton.

“It makes it a lot easier to get through practice when you come

off a win,” said Orange Coast Coach Mike Taylor.

Saddleback leads the overall series, 15-11, including last

season’s 24-12 win against the Pirates.

“We’re going to need to play as good of a game as we’ve played all

year to beat them,” said Orange Coast Coach Mike Taylor. “They can

move the ball down the field so we will have to slow them down to

have a chance to win, but we’re a good defensive team.”

The Gauchos lead the Central Division in passing offense with

freshman quarterback Brock Farrel at the helm.

He leads the conference in yards per game (225.6) while completing

147 of 255 passes for 2,030 yards (also the conference leader) for 16

touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Saddleback ranks fourth in the conference in yards per game

(376.8) while Orange Coast sits at 10th (269.6).

The Gauchos have accumulated 2,101 of their 3,391 total yards

through the air compared to the Pirates, who rely on more of a

run-pass balance, gaining 1,418 rushing yards and 1,008 passing

yards.

“They would rather pass than run the football,” Taylor said. “But

(sophomore running back Chris) Smith had a big week last week and

(running back Darrell) Shorter is a good player, but both don’t have

the yards as does Niles Mittasch.”

Smith carried 11 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the

Gauchos’ win last week.

Mittasch had his most prodigious game rushing at the junior

college level in Coast’s win last week.

The sophomore back rushed for 224 yards on 28 carries with three

TDs and recognition, along with Smith, of conference “Player of the

Week” for running backs.

The Pirates’ ground game was also led by Dan Hawkey and Russell

Oschman, who gained 56 and 17 yards, respectively, last week in place

of injured sophomore Steven Mahelona, who will not play for the

second game in a row because of a hip pointer suffered in a 8-0 loss

to Santa Ana Nov. 9.

But rushing yards could be hard to come by for Coast since

Saddleback has the No. 1-rated rush defense in the conference,

allowing 86.1 yards per game.

“They’re No. 1 against the rush and rushing is our forte,” Taylor

said. “They blitz a lot and gamble to force some bad plays. We cannot

commit turnovers ourselves and be patient and resilient.”

Coast ranks fourth in the conference in total defense followed by

Saddleback in fifth.

Last week the Pirates forced five turnovers, three interceptions

and two fumbles, and had five players given “Player of the Week”

accolades.

Defensive lineman Jesse Mahelona had six tackles (three solo), one

sack and one blocked punt while defensive end Ryan Miller made 12

tackles and recovered a fumble. Linebacker Andy Howe had eight

tackles and caused a fumble while cornerback Jason Brooks posted four

tackles to go with an interception and a 59-yard TD on a fumble

return. Safety Nick Dominelli, a Saddleback transfer, made four

tackles and had an interception.

Sophomore tight end Justin Rose will not play this week because of

an injured foot and sophomore starting offensive guard Donnie Garcia

is also out.

Sophomore guard Matt Ostiz will play in place of Garcia.

Two Coast players (one is a sophomore) were ejected in the fourth

quarter of last week’s game following personal foul infractions will

not play this week. Taylor declined to be specific.

“Some kids have been waiting for their chance to play and some

will get that chance this week,” Taylor said.

“It’s the last game for the sophomores, we’re home and we’d like

to win the last two games to carry over into next season for the

freshmen.”