Pirates aim to stop the bleeding against Dons

Today’s 5 p.m. clash between host Orange Coast College and Santa Ana is a noteworthy Mission Conference National Division game.

For the Pirates (5-2, 0-2 in the division), ranked No. 9 in Southern California, it could also become a sales brochure.

“It’s important that we win, because I think it’ll give us an opportunity to be in a playoff bowl,” Pirates Coach Mike Taylor said. “That’s what our players want to do.”

The top eight teams in Southern California play in what amounts to a Southern California tournament, the winner of which advances to the state title game against the top team from the North.

“If we don’t win [today] and we win the last two, we’d still be 7-3, which isn’t a bad season, and we’ll probably get an opportunity to play an 11th game,” Taylor said.

Santa Ana (6-1, 1-1), ranked No. 5 in Southern California, is trying to rebound from its first loss of the season, a 33-11 setback to El Camino last week.

OCC lost to Saddleback, ranked No. 1 in Southern California and No. 2 in the state, 23-17, in overtime last week. It also fell to El Camino, 31-17, in the division opener and has lost two straight.

“We had an opportunity last week to pull off an upset that would have shocked everybody last week,” Taylor said. “That left a little bit of a bad taste in our mouth, so we need to beat Santa Ana to feel better. And I think we will.”

The Dons feature former Newport Harbor High quarterback Kasey Peters, a sophomore transfer from Saddleback. Peters has completed 107 of 199 passes for 1,528 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has thrown seven interceptions. Santa Ana ranks third in the 12-team conference in passing yards per game (241.4).

“[Peters] has a great arm and he’s very poised,” Taylor said. “And he has a good supporting cast.”

Brian Allen is the leading rusher for Santa Ana. He has 911 yards and eight TDs on 167 carries.

Peters’ favorite receivers have been David Richmond (32 catches for 539 yards and six TDs) and DeAndre Williams (21 catches for 435 yards and eight TDs).

OCC ranks second in the conference in scoring defense, but has struggled to find consistent offensive production in its two straight losses.

“We need to score more than 17 points, like we’ve done the last two weeks,” Taylor said. “We need our playmakers to play up.”

Taylor lists sophomore quarterback Kekoa Crowell, freshman tailback Andrew Banks and sophomore receiver Damola Adeniji as his offensive playmakers.

Crowell has thrown for 958 yards, completing 81 of 162 with 12 TDs and only four interceptions.

Crowell scored on a one-yard run with 13 seconds remaining to propel the Pirates to a 10-7 road win over the Dons last season.

Banks has 551 rushing yards and six TDs on 155 attempts, but his longest run of the season is 19 yards.

Adenjii has a team-high 20 reception for 213 yards and five TDs. He also has the team’s longest run of the season at 22 yards. In two division games, however, he has four catches for 42 yards, including two receptions for 10 yards last week.

OCC is led defensively by freshman outside linebacker Shaun Mohler, a Corona del Mar High product, and senior safety Chris Assily. Mohler leads the team with 64 tackles, while Assily is second with 44.

“Mohler is having an All-American-type season,” Taylor said.

OCC leads the series, 29-26.