Davis, Padilla lauded

Orange Coast College sophomore defensive tackle Ryan Davis and

freshman tailback Matt Padilla have been named first-team All-Mission

Conference American Division by the division’s six football coaches.

In addition, eight Pirates earned second-team laurels.

Davis, a 6-foot-1, 270-pounder, had 53 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks

for the Pirates. He was a second-team honoree as a freshman.

Padilla, who missed nearly three games with an ankle injury,

collected 560 of his 761 rushing yards in five American Division

games. He had at least 100 yards in his final three games, including

a 155-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 33-32 win over Golden

West Nov. 13.

Padilla, who sprinted 70 yards to paydirt the first time he

touched the ball this season (in a Sept. 11 loss at Los Angeles

Southwest), scored six of his seven touchdowns in the final two

games. He had 143 carries this fall.

The second-team offense includes OCC sophomores Kyle Basanez,

Jimmy Niutapuai and Kyle Collins, as well as freshman Ryan

Lauderdale.

Sophomore Ricky Miller, as well as freshmen Mordy Ornguze, Aaron

Miller and Dave Ronning, represent the Pirates on the second-team

defense.

Basanez, a transfer quarterback from Fordham, completed 120 of 246

passes for 1,530 yards and eight touchdowns. He threw seven

interceptions. He also rushed for 360 yards and one TD and he threw a

21-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds left to key the dramtic win in

the season finale.

Niutapuai, a 6-1, 260-pound fullback, was a devastating lead

blocker for the Bucs, who also relied on Collins, a 6-3, 290-pound

guard, to create holes.

Lauderdale, a receiver, led the team with 31 catches for 300 yards

and one TD.

Ricky Miller, a transfer from Fresno State, used his strength and

quickness to produce four sacks and 29 tackles, despite missing

significant time with injuries.

Ronning, a middle linebacker (92 tackles), and Aaron Miller, an

outside ‘backer (72), were the leading tacklers for the Pirates.

Ornguze, a safety out of Corona del Mar High, proved he could both

cover and provide run support (63 tackles).

Orange Coast finished 2-8, 2-3 in the division.

Golden West sophomore receiver Steve Yaden was named Offensive

Player of the Year, while Filisonuu Tafisi (Mt. San Antonio) and Josh

Gomez (Palomar) were Co-Defensive Players of the Year.

Bill Fisk (Mt. SAC) and Jerry Jaso (Long Beach City) shared Coach

of the Year honors.

-- Barry Faulkner