Pirates fall to Comets
The Orange Coast College football team did not improve to 3-0 for the
first time since 1991, nor did it show many signs of solving its
quarterback quandary or offensive doldrums Saturday.
The Pirates, however, did find ways to keep scoring points despite
their lack of offensive production against Mission Conference host
Palomar.
The Comets (3-0 and ranked No. 23 in the nation by J.C. Grid-Wire)
had their offensive struggles as well, but got three touchdown passes
and two interception returns for touchdowns to earn a 40-32 victory
before 500 at Escondido High.
Orange Coast (2-1), which had one offensive touchdown in its first
eight quarters this season, went another three without a TD against
the Comets, before freshman quarterback Ethan Haller provided a
spark.
Haller, who was 2 for 7 with one interception in relief duty in
the Sept. 10 home win over Compton, triggered both of OCC’s
fourth-quarter scoring drives.
After a fake punt pass from upback Raul Ballas to Andrew Fuller
gave OCC a first down at its own 46, two Haller completions for 18
yards, three runs and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the
Comets set up first-and-goal at the 9.
Freshman quarterback Kekoa Crowell, who started in place of
sophomore Chad Schmigel (injured ribs), came on to finish the job,
tossing a 9-yard TD to Damora Adeniji to allow OCC to close to within
34-24 with 5:55 left.
Haller, who finished 6 of 8 for 74 yards, without an interception,
later commanded a three-play, 47-yard touchdown drive with three
completions. After a 37-yard connection to George Raco to the Palomar
1, Haller flipped to Adeniji for the final score.
OCC’s ensuing onside kickoff failed to go the necessary 10 yards
and Palomar ran out the clock to claim its fifth straight triumph
over the Pirates.
The Pirates’ defense, particularly the front seven, posted another
sterling performance. Sophomore Justin Williams, a 6-foot, 235-pound
defensive end, was the catalyst, once again. After starring in the
Pirates two victories, he had two sacks for 15 yards, made four
tackles behind the line for another 14 negative yards, recovered two
fumbles and consistently pressured the quarterback.
OCC defensive end Paul Bartsch intercepted a pass in a zone blitz,
while middle linebacker Dave Ronning, tackles Winters Welz and Mike
Mataafa, as well as outside linebacker Keola Asuega, were among
others who stood out.
Palomar managed just 18 yards on 30 rushing attempts.
Comet quarterback Josh Somerville, 15 for 32 with two
interceptions, also struggled at times through the air. But he
sparkled on several occasions to compile 305 passing yards.
Somerville had touchdown passes of 49 and 20 yards to Jermaine
McQueen and added completions of 69 and 44 yards, the 69-yarder
setting up a third-quarter TD.
OCC cornerback Cory Nicol intercepted in his own end zone to foil
another long pass attempt by Palomar, which committed six of the
game’s 11 turnovers.
The Comets, however, cashed in on OCC turnovers, including the
aforementioned interception returns for TDs. Safety Adam Tenney went
38 yards with a pick with 11:29 left in the game to extend the hosts’
lead to 34-18. Adam Contreras fielded a desperation pass at the OCC
46 and returned it for a score to put the Comets up, 40-24, with 57
seconds left.
Palomar opened the scoring on Marvin Betts’ 69-yard punt return
for a touchdown, but OCC easily won the special teams battle.
OCC sophomore receiver Shane Hoffman returned the second-half
kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Then, after the Palomar punter fell
on an errant snap in the end zone for a safety, Hoffman dashed 83
yards with the ensuing free kick.
Kyle Vandenbos, whose 41-yard field goal in the first half
accounted for all the visitors’ scoring before intermission, kicked
the conversion to pull the Pirates within 21-18 with 4:12 left in the
third quarter.
But the Pirates were held to 37 rushing yards on 38 attempts as
Crowell, praised by Coach Mike Taylor for his mobility, failed to
help the ground game. Crowell was sacked three times for 39 negative
yards and finished with minus-26 yards on 11 carries.
Crowell was a mere 8 for 27 passing for 74 yards, with four
interceptions.
Taylor was disappointed with Crowell’s production and pointed to
the quarterback role as one that will need to be solidified.
“I guess we still have a quarterback controversy,” Taylor said.
“We have to get better at that position. We had some breakdowns in
pass protection, and we had some dropped passes. But we also had some
passes off target. We need more than a non-entity at quarterback.”
Sophomore tailback Robert Aoki had 29 rushing yards on 15 carries,
while Adeniji, a 6-4 freshman receiver, used his size to collect
three receptions for 26 yards, including two TDs.
Hoffman and fellow starter Eric Dietz each had four catches, but
none were for more than 10 yards.
Williams said the Pirates came out flat, which helped Palomar
build the 21-3 halftime lead.
But OCC, sparked by Hoffman’s first kickoff return to paydirt,
showed great energy from the outset after intermission.
“We didn’t get to the passer in the first half, but we got after
him in the second half,” Taylor said.
OCC was also hurt by 11 penalties for 99 yards.
With 211 return yards, Palomar amassed a 534-204 advantage in net
yardage.
There were four dead-ball personal foul penalties and two
unsportsmanlike infractions, split evenly between the two teams. A
Palomar player was ejected in the third quarter.
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