Orange Coast tries to resume its hot streak

With its first 5-0 start since 1991, perhaps the last thing the Orange Coast College football team needed was a break in the action.

But, after a bye week, the Pirates, ranked No. 4 in Southern California, will try to pick up where they left off when they visit No. 5-ranked El Camino (4-1) tonight at 6.

“When you’re 5-0 with momentum, you hate to stop,” OCC Coach Mike Taylor said. “But it did give us a chance to get away from the grind a little bit, while also giving us an extra week’s work on El Camino.”

The Warriors, also coming off a bye, had an extra week to prepare for the Pirates, who have remained perfect by limiting mistakes and cashing in on those of their opponents.

OCC is plus-13 in turnover margin and the Pirates have lost only two fumbles and been intercepted once.

OCC has also relied on its defense, ranked No. 1 in the 12-team Mission Conference in total defense (251.4 yards allowed per game) and No. 1 in rushing defense (80 yards per contest).

The Pirates are led by freshman outside linebacker Shaun Mohler, a Corona del Mar High product who has a team-high 44 tackles.

Sophomore noseguard Winter Welz is second on the team with 29 tackles.

Offensively, the Pirates have relied on a balanced attack triggered by sophomore quarterback Kekoa Crowell.

Crowell has completed 54 of 108 passes for 669 yards and 10 touchdowns, with only one interception.

“Kekoa has played even better than his statistics indicate,” Taylor said. “We’ll need a big game out of him [against El Camino].”

Taylor said freshman running back Andrew Banks will look for a big game against many of his friends, former teammates and acquaintances.

Taylor said Banks, a product of North Torrance High, came to Orange Coast after viewing the videotape of the Pirates’ 36-33 loss to the Warriors last season.

El Camino rallied from a 26-14 deficit to escape with the win last season, ending a two-game losing streak to OCC.

The Warriors, however, have typically had their way with the Pirates.

El Camino has won 14 of the last 16 meetings and 16 of their 20 collisions overall. El Camino is not as productive as some recent Warrior offenses have been.

Jamicah Bass is the leading rusher with 315 yards and five touchdowns, while Kayne Farquharson leads the receiving corps with 21 catches for 385 yards and four TDs.

Boo Jackson went the distance at quarterback in a 28-24 win over Palomar on Sept. 30, after playing a backup role to Tavares Kendrick the first four weeks.

Jackson has completed 25 of 44 passes for 398 yards and four TDs, with only one interception.

“I told our staff, we can hold them to 21 points,” Taylor said. “We just have to score more than that.”

OCC returns home Oct. 21 to play host to Saddleback at 1 p.m.