OCC visits Santa Ana

Orange Coast grid pre vs. Santa AnaWinner will maintain at least a share of second place in Mission Conference National Division.The 2005 Orange Coast College football team has won as many games as all but one team in the program’s last 12 seasons.

But Coach Mike Taylor and his Pirates can step into even more elite company by defeating host Santa Ana in a Mission Conference National Division game today at 1 p.m. at the Santa Ana Bowl.

The Pirates (4-3, 1-1 in the division) are coming off, arguably, their best two back-to-back performances since 2002. They held off Saddleback, 30-28, last week, after watching an upset of unbeaten El Camino slip away in a 36-33 setback Oct. 15.

OCC is ranked No. 11 in the Southern California coaches’ poll. Only the 2001 Mission Conference Central Division championship team that finished 6-5 has more wins among OCC squads since 1993.

Santa Ana (5-2, 1-1), ranked No. 8 in Southern California, is coming off a 52-38 loss to El Camino that ended a three-game winning streak.

The Dons are averaging 41.4 points per game, second most in the 12-team conference, and also rank second in total offense with 425.4 yards per game.

OCC, which has seen an offensive resurgence with the insertion of freshman Kekoa Crowell at quarterback, is still paced by its defense. The Pirates rank No. 1 in the conference in total defense, allowing 377.4 yards per game. They are also No. 1 in rushing defense (72.9 yards per contest), though Santa Ana quarterback Daniel Morales figures to attack their pass defense.

Morales completed 10 of 13 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown and also rushed for 75 yards and one touchdown in the Dons’ 37-14 win last season.

“[Morales] is the key,” Taylor said of this year’s meeting. “He is a real good player.”

Morales has thrown for 1,660 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He has completed 115 of 194 passes with only four interceptions.

Crowell, who has started three games, is 39 of 82 passing for 511 yards and six touchdowns, with six interceptions.

The Dons’ receiving corps is led by Trent Sakioka, who has 27 catches for 377 yards and one touchdown. Finas Rabb has 22 receptions for 353 yards and five touchdowns.

OCC sophomore Shane Hoffman has 21 catches for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Also a threat on kickoff returns, he ranks fourth in the conference in all-purpose yards (122.4 per game).

The Pirates’ defense is led by sophomore linebackers Dave Ronning and Aaron Miller, sophomore end Justin Williams and freshman cornerback Cory Nicol. Ronning and Miller have been in on 61 and 46 tackles, respectively, and Williams leads the conference with 8.5 sacks and 18 tackles for losses.

Nicol’s five interceptions are tied for the conference lead.

Other defensive standouts for the Pirates have included sophomore end Paul Bartsch, as well as sophomore strong safety Mordy Ornguze and sophomore free safety Nick Snowden.

20051029iosi0cknMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Orange Coast College turned up the defensive pressure on Saddleback last week, winning 30-28.