COLLEGES:

Winning may not cure all, but it was a welcome salve for the Orange Coast College football team Saturday after the Pirates’ 35-34 double-overtime win over Mission Conference American Division rival Fullerton.

A two-point conversion pass from Chris Debowski to Nathan Barnett to cap the second overtime helped the host Pirates end a four-game losing streak and improve to 3-4, 1-1 in the American Division.

It also helped warm what had been an increasingly cool relationship between the Pirates’ offensive and defensive players.

After the dramatic, game-winning two-point conversion, Pirates players sprinted off the sideline toward the north end zone to congratulate teammates. Then, after shaking hands with the Hornets (5-2, 1-1), and meeting with their coaches, OCC players renewed the celebration.

Linebackers hugged running backs. Guards embraced safeties and Debowski, a sophomore quarterback popular with his teammates who had been sidelined much of the season by a broken thumb on his right, passing hand, was whisked away for photos, atop the shoulders of about a dozen linemen.

OCC Defensive Coordinator Scott Orloff, an emotional firebrand on the sideline, embraced freshman tailback Kevin Ah-Hi in the postgame melee and related some praise to the team’s offense, which had been the major reason why the Pirates had not won since Sept. 8 against visiting Santa Monica.

“You guys saved our [posteriors] today,” Orloff told Ah-Hi, who carried 30 times for 126 yards, including both touchdowns in overtime.

Ah-Hi played the entire game at tailback, due to an injury sustained in practice Thursday by sophomore Andrew Banks, who had been sharing backfield duty.

Banks went up for a high pass and fell on his back, OCC Coach Mike Taylor said after Saturday’s game. There is no word yet on the severity of the injury.

 While the OCC offense had its most productive day of the season with 408 total yards, the Pirates defense was, once again, strong.

Sophomore outside linebacker Shaun Mohler was once again the defensive catalyst. The Corona del Mar High product was in on 17 tackles, including both sacks, and had an interception to earn Mission Conference Defensive Player of the Week recognition.

Mohler said Monday that the recent events at Nebraska — three straight losses to fall to 4-4 and the firing last week of athletic director Steve Pederson — have caused him to rethink his verbal commitment to become a Cornhusker next season.

Mohler said he has scheduled a visit to Colorado for Dec. 8 and plans to visit some unspecified Pac-10 schools as well, perhaps Oregon, Washington and UCLA.

Nebraska is still in the picture, Mohler said, but not if Interim Athletic Director Tom Osborne fires current coach Bill Callahan.

Mohler said OCC linebackers coach David Robinson, is helping him line up his future campus visits.

 UC Irvine will honor its 2004 women’s volleyball team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament with “Raise the Banner” night when the Anteaters play host to Long Beach State in a crucial Big West Conference match Friday at 7.

Coach Charlie Brande’s 2004 unit, led by All-American outside hitter Kelly Wing, was 18-11 and earned a second straight NCAA berth.

This year’s Anteaters squad (16-7, 6-2 in conference) is hoping to avenge a 30-21, 30-26, 28-30, 30-23 road loss to the 49ers on Sept. 29.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.