OCC tries to remain hot

When last we left the Orange Coast College football team, it was cavorting wildly after a double-overtime victory against visiting Fullerton on Oct. 20.

Quarterback Chris Debowski’s two-point conversion pass to Nathan Barnett that gave the Pirates a 35-34 triumph, led Barnett to predict the Pirates would “demolish” teams in its remaining regular-season games.

Two weeks later, after the Oct. 27 game against Golden West was canceled due to poor air quality as a result of fires in the region, OCC will attempt to pick up where it left off against visiting El Camino in a Mission Conference American Division game today at 5 p.m.

El Camino (6-1, 2-0 in the American Division), ranked No. 2 in Southern California, figures to be a formidable challenge for No. 20-ranked Orange Coast (3-4, 1-1).

The Warriors have won five straight and have outscored opponents by an average of 38.3 to 19.7 this season.

OCC, on the other hand, has seen a dominant defense — ranked No. 1 in the 12-team Mission Conference in total defense, allowing 290.4 yards per game — largely compromised by an offense that has struggled to find consistent productivity.

The Pirates are ranked 11th in the conference in total offense and scoring offense and are last in passing offense, averaging just 164.4 aerial yards per contest.

But the emergence of Debowski, a sophomore who was sidelined early by a broken finger and made just his second start against Fullerton, has generated offensive optimism.

With Debowski manning the controls all game for the first time this season, the Pirates’ 35-point output was its best of the season. It was the highest-scoring game for the OCC since a 42-29 victory at Pasadena in Week 3 of the 2006 season, a span of 14 games.

Debowski threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in regulation against Fullerton. He completed 22 of 42 passes for 251 yards, with one interception. He is 32 of 72 for 420 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions through the air this season.

OCC freshman tailback Kevin Ah-Hi rushed for 126 yards on 30 carries against Fullerton, scoring both overtime touchdowns on the ground. It was the second triple-digit output by a Pirates ballcarrier this season. Ah-Hi collected 165 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in the Pirates’ 28-16 victory over Santa Monica on Sept. 8.

Ah-Hi has 470 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season.

The Pirates will also hope to gain inspiration from new orange jerseys, which were scheduled to debut against Golden West.

“El Camino is a very good team worthy of its ranking,” Orange Coast Coach Mike Taylor said of the reigning state champions. “You can’t really run sideline to sideline against their defense, but you can run some stuff up inside. And we have some gadget plays in the mix.”

El Camino features sophomore quarterback Boo Jackson, who has thrown for 1,535 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has completed 90 of 136 (66.2%) with just three interceptions.

Tavares Pressley has paced the running game, producing 575 yards and 10 touchdowns on 66 carries.

The Warriors’ leading receivers are Corey Surrency (21 catches for 381 yards and three touchdowns) and Verran Tucker (16 catches for 373 yards, that’s 23.3 per catch, and five touchdowns).

Taylor said the unexpected week off was both frustrating and productive.

“We had a good week of practice, maybe our best of the season,” Taylor said.

OCC needs a victory to remain in contention to earn the program’s third consecutive bowl berth.

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