OCC wants good ending

No longer playing for a bowl berth, or a Mission Conference American Division championship, the Orange Coast College football team has something to look to for inspiration as it plays host to Long Beach City College today at 5 p.m.

Pirates Coach Mike Taylor said the alternative to victory is still foremost on the minds of his players, in this American Division game between also-rans.

“Our kids know the importance of winning the next two weeks,” Taylor said. “There’s a big difference in finishing 5-5, as opposed to three and whatever. We’ve had a good week of practice and we’ll be ready to play.”

The Pirates (3-5, 1-2 in the division) are also attempting to construct a two-game winning streak the next two weeks, something they have not done without the benefit of a forfeit this season.

OCC had a season-opening loss at Citrus reversed by forfeit, then went on to win its second game against Santa Monica. Since, OCC is 1-5, with its lone victory in that stretch coming in double overtime against Fullerton on Oct. 20.

OCC fell last week to division-leading El Camino, 42-13, ending the Pirates’ postseason hopes.

Long Beach (2-6, 1-2) is also playing out the string, though the Vikings have some momentum, after snapping a five-game losing streak last week with a 36-31 win over Golden West.

The Vikings did so with a first-time starter at quarterback, freshman Gabriel Thomas, who completed 15 of 27 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns, without an interception. Thomas stepped in for sophomore Andrew DeFelice, who had thrown for 1,518 yards and 11 touchdowns, with eight interceptions, this season.

OCC has also shuffled its quarterbacks this season, with sophomore Chris Debowski currently holding the job. Debowski, however, comes off the roughest of his four career starts, having thrown five interceptions, all five of which led to touchdowns against El Camino.

Debowski comes in having completed 48 of 103 attempts for 550 yards and four touchdowns, with seven interceptions.

He has the luxury of facing a Long Beach squad that ranks last in the 12-team Mission Conference in total defense, giving up 446.2 yards per game.

The OCC offense, which also features freshman tailback Kevin Ah-Hi (472 yards and four touchdowns on 117 carries), is last in the conference in total offense (274.5 yards per game).

The OCC defense, however, led by sophomore outside linebacker Shaun Mohler (83 tackles) ranks first in total defense, surrendering just 294 yards per contest. Further, the Pirates rank first in pass defense (176.9 yards per game). The latter should come in handy against the Vikings, who rank third in pass offense (270.5 yards per game).

Mohler, sophomore cornerback Chris Holmesly, freshman defensive end Dean DeLeone and freshman free safety Chad Baichtal have all been consistent standouts for the OCC defense this season.

DeLeone has 55 tackles, including four sacks, Baichtal has a team-leading three interceptions and 50 tackles, Holmesly has 47 tackles and two picks, and sophomore middle linebacker Matt Harris has 48 tackles.

OCC will complete its season Friday at 7 p.m. when it plays host Golden West at OCC.

The game was originally scheduled for Oct. 27, but was not played, due to poor air quality resulting from fires in the region.

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