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.