OCC faces hefty task

Barry Faulkner

When Orange Coast College football coach Mike Taylor refers to

tonight’s 5 o’clock Mission Conference American Division game against

visiting Mt. San Antonio as a huge game, he is invoking double

meaning.

First of all, the Pirates (1-5, 1-0 in the division) are hoping to

continue the momentum created by last week’s 21-14 division-opening

win over Long Beach City, against a Mounties squad (5-1, 1-0) favored

to earn its fourth conference championship in six seasons.

But Taylor is also speaking of the combined tonnage detailed on

the Mt. SAC roster, which includes no fewer than 12 active players

who top the 300-pound plateau. Of the Mounties’ 99 players assigned

numbers (there are 133 total players listed), 24 weigh at least 250.

“They’re just really big and physical,” Taylor said. “They have

300 pounders up front on offense who just pick up the line of

scrimmage, move it 7 or 8 yards and drop it. We’re going to try to

get as many people in the box as possible.”

Mt. SAC’s 6-foot-3 quarterback, Derek Devine (773 passing yards),

weighs 235 pounds, while leading rusher Jacob Flowe (358 yards and

four TDs) is listed at 6-1, 225.

By contrast, OCC’s 22 projected starters include three 300

pounders and two more who weigh 260 and 270. The Pirates right

offensive tackle, freshman Tommy Crowley, checks in at 6-4, 230.

But the Mounties’ true anchor lies on defense, where they are

ranked No. 1 in the 12-team conference against the rush (54 yards per

game), the pass (just less than 139 yards per game) and fewest yards

allowed (not quite 192 yards per contest). Mt. SAC has allowed just

62 points this fall.

“I think they’ve given up six touchdowns all season,” said Taylor,

whose team has scored a conference-low 88 points this fall (14.7 per

game). The OCC offense has scored just six TDs in four conference

games, none in the second half of those contests.

Last week, OCC’s lone second-half points came on a 34-yard

interception return by freshman cornerback Marques Dailey.

OCC is led by sophomore quarterback Kyle Basanez, who has thrown

for 919 yards and rushed for 174 more. He has completed 72 of 151

passes, with three TDs and four interceptions.

OCC’s leading rusher is freshman Matt Padilla (257 yards on 55

carries).

The Pirates have lost 11 of their last 12 against Mt. SAC,

including three straight.