OCC on the road

Barry Faulkner

The Orange Coast College football team will venture about 35 miles up

the freeway today and, perhaps, about 50 years back in time.

The Pirates, who fell to Glendale, 24-17, in their mistake-filled

season opener, will visit a Los Angeles Southwest team with a retro,

run-oriented offense it used to pound out a 17-14 opening win over

San Bernardino Valley. Kickoff today is 1 p.m. at the Cougars’

on-campus stadium.

“Last week [the Cougars] just went out and lined up foot-to-foot

across the offensive line with two tight ends, a wing and ran the

football,” OCC Coach Mike Taylor said. “It looked like 1950s stuff.”

Orange Coast, hoping to end a five-game losing streak, will have a

new starter at quarterback (freshman Chad Schmigel) and tailback

(sophomore Matt Padilla). The Pirates will try to energize an offense

that produced 197 yards last week, just 18 on the ground.

Southwest produced 280 of its 339 offensive yards on the ground

last week, keyed by sophomore Chris Singleton, who rushed for 162

yards on 26 carries.

Schmigel came off the bench in the opener to complete 2 of 6 pass

attempts for 35 yards and one interception. Taylor said former

starter Kyle Basanez, a sophomore transfer from Fordham, should also

see action today. Basanez was 11 of 29 for 144 yards and one TD with

no interceptions against Glendale.

OCC, which, Taylor said, will bring more defenders into the box if

Southwest employs its smashmouth scheme, will be without sophomore

defensive end Ricky Miller, who suffered a bruised knee in the

opener.