Pirates’ 26-0 triumph has special ring to it

COMPTON — At this rate, Orange Coast College football Coach Mike Taylor will be doing everything in his power to get his defense and special teams on the field.

For the second consecutive week, the defense and special teams feasted while the offense just made sure it was there to clean up the scraps as Orange Coast shut out nonconference host Compton, 26-0, Saturday, improving to 2-0.

Punt returner and safety Chris Assily’s 94 yards on seven punt returns were nearly as many yards as the Pirates had passing, and 30 more then Orange Coast had rushing.

“He’s a potential all-conference player,” Taylor said of the sophomore from Hawaii. “He’s getting better and better.”

The defense was also there to lend a helping hand to a struggling offense. The Pirates held the Tartars to 28 yards rushing and 24 yards passing in the first half. Compton also did not achieve its initial first down until there was 1:50 remaining in the half.

“We played well defensively,” Taylor said.

And the defensive line held it’s ground despite Compton (0-2) averaging 6-foot-6, 300 pounds along the offensive line. Sophomore defensive tackle Alex Mulu, who is listed at 6-0, 285, was in the midst of the fray throughout the game.

“We played hard and we came out here and did what we were taught to do,” Mulu said. “Our coach taught us to stay low, use leverage and that’s what we did. It’s nice to go up against the big guys and beat them. We’re not at our peak yet. In a couple weeks you’ll see what we’re made of.”

While the defense and special teams did not score, as they did Sept. 2 against Santa Barbara, they both set up the offense with easy scoring opportunities.

To open the game, the Pirates offense was stymied after six plays.

Two plays into Compton’s ensuing drive, Nick West intercepted a pass to put the Pirates in the Tartars’ 46-yard line.

The offense kicked in gear with the short field and finished the drive with Kekoa Crowell hitting Damola Adeniji in the corner of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown to give the Pirates a 6-0 lead.

Crowell and Adeniji would connect for three touchdowns on the day and the sophomore receiver was happy with his output after going without a catch last week.

“We had a tough game last week but we stayed strong,” Adeniji said. “The first two [TD catches] were pretty easy, the last one they made me work for it.”

Adeniji’s third touchdown came on a drive that started early in the fourth quarter with the Pirates ahead, 19-0. The field position came courtesy of the special teams and freshman Andrew Fuller, who recovered a mishandled punt reception, giving the Pirates the ball at the Tartars’ 13-yard line.

On second down, Crowell hit Adeniji on a stop pattern three yards from the end zone. Adeniji spun past his defender and dived in for the score.

“I will take one-on-one coverage any day,” Adeniji said. “I have confidence in my height and most conerbacks aren’t tall enough to stop me.”

The offense was given an even better opportunity late in the second quarter. Assily burst through a crowd of defenders for a 48-yard return to the Tartars’ six-yard line, but the Pirates had to settle for a 20-yard Brock Jaramillo field goal.

“Our consistency is what we need to work on,” Adeniji said. “We need to consistently keep drives together. I think we can be 10-0 and go to a bowl game. Our potential is outstanding.”

After amassing 11 penalties for 120 yards against Santa Barbara, the Pirates improved in garnering four for 40 yards.

“You can’t make kids who are playing aggressively not mix it up out there once in a while,” Taylor said.

A tougher test comes in the next game, Saturday against Palomar. Orange Coast has not defeated Palomar since 2000.

“They’re a real good team,” Taylor said. “There are some things we did well and there are some we need to work on.”