Bucs renew rivalry

Bryce Alderton

The fact that no playoff implications are involved with tonight’s

Orange Coast College and Golden West football duel doesn’t dilute the

anticipation from this bitter rivalry that dates back to 1966.

The Pirates (4-5, 1-3 in the Mission Conference’s American

Division) and Rustlers (3-6, 1-3) meet for the 37th time at 6 p.m. at

LeBard Stadium with the winner taking the Victory Bell to keep at its

school until next year.

OCC won last year’s contest, 31-7, with free safety Nick Dominelli

scoring two touchdowns on a 50-yard fumble and 95-yard interception

return, respectively.

Dominelli has intercepted five passes and tallied a team-high 93

tackles this fall. He leads a defense that ranks first against the

pass (144.6 yards per game) and third overall in the conference, but

comes into tonight’s game banged up.

Sophomore defensive ends Bryan Meers and Ryan Miller each suffered

concussions in last week’s 21-7 loss to Cerritos, the Bucs’ third in

a row. Meers will play, but will not start, while Miller is out for

the game. Miller was released from Hoag Hospital early Saturday

morning after suffering his third concussion in three games.

Their injuries mean freshmen Sean Campregher and Tim Ioane will

start alongside Nick Moghaddam and Justin Williams on Coast’s front

four. Williams has made 53 tackles while tallying a team-leading 9

1/2 sacks.

Coast’s secondary figures to be tested with Golden West’s passing

game, which ranks second in the conference with 226.1 yards per game.

Sophomore quarterback Todd Crabtree’s most reliable target has

been Ryan Partridge, who leads the conference in reception yards

(752) and catches per game (5.7), while tying Mt. San Antonio’s

Delaine Walker for touchdown catches (seven).

Coast’s offense ranks last in the conference, averaging just more

than 250 yards a contest. Chris Vega’s 3-yard touchdown run in the

second quarter of last week’s game was Coast’s first TD in seven

quarters. The Pirates have been outscored, 85-24, in their last three

games.

Freshman Jamel Foreman will start at tailback for the first time

this season. Vega and Josh Black each missed practice this week with

illnesses.

“Kids are looking forward to an opportunity to play,” Orange Coast

Coach Mike Taylor said. “It is amazing who shows up when things

aren’t going so good and who comes when things are good.”

The Rustlers’ three wins this season equal their total number of

victories the prior five years combined. Golden West leads the

all-time series against Coast, 18-16-2.

Both Taylor and Rustler Coach Ray Shackleford know that high

school seniors looking to continue their football careers might be

looking at this game closely, which adds to the game’s intrigue.

“You can throw out the statistics when you play Golden West,”

Taylor said. “The kids have been focused all week. This is our bowl

game.”