Pirates’ win a rush

COSTA MESA — There was no napping in the Orange Coast College defensive meetings this past week, as the players’ eyes widened at the prospect of confronting the porous pass protection of the Los Angeles Southwest offensive line.

“We knew they weren’t going to be the toughest offense that we were going to face this year,” said OCC sophomore defensive end Dean DeLeone, who has listed collecting sacks as his major goal this season.

L.A. Southwest, which suffered 13 sacks in its season-opening loss to El Camino, continued to add to the lowlight reel Saturday, as host Orange Coast had 12 players take part in 11 sacks to help produce a 31-7 nonconference football victory.

It was win No. 300 in 595 games for OCC, which debuted in 1948.

DeLeone, who had the Pirates’ lone sack in a season-opening win over Santa Monica, shared two sacks against the Cougars, who finished with five rushing yards in 30 attempts.

Starting quarterback Torrey Harkness, who twice left the field due to blows sustained from OCC defenders, was sacked seven times. Cougars’ backup Arthur Fields went down four more times, as the Pirates created six fumbles.

Tackle Brandon Allen and middle linebacker Isaiah Reupena each had 1 1/2 sacks to lead the winners, for whom eight linemen, three linebackers and one cornerback were all members of the sack pack.

End Christian Bonsall, tackle Kevin Borton, outside linebacker Jimmy Keating and cornerback Joseph Lang all had solo sacks. Tackle Justin Niutapuai shared two, while middle linebacker Matt Henry, tackle Dane Kibodeaux, as well as reserve linemen Eric Grunbaum and Kevin Patrick each collected a half sack.

The dominance up front allowed the visitors to have just two yards of total offense in the first half, in which the Cougars did not complete any of their four passes. The only Cougars pass that was caught was the interception snatched by strong safety Benjamin Soza that helped set up the fourth touchdown of the first half.

The abandon with which the OCC defense played also led to some mistakes and penalties, a general sloppiness both DeLeone and Coach Mike Taylor lamented afterward.

But there was much to be pleased with on the OCC sideline, from where a satiated defense watched the offense score on four straight first-half possessions to put the game, well, in the pocket.

OCC sophomore quarterback Taylor Hughes, making his first start of the season having directed the Pirates during a strong second half after taking over in the opener, lofted a deftly-placed fade pass to Keali’i Doll to open the scoring. The touchdown came on the first snap after a Southwest punt snap led to an incomplete pass that created a short field.

OCC drove 78 yards on 13 plays on its next possession, with sophomore tailback Kevin Ah-Hi capping the march on a 28-yard run in which he guided a blocker into the last remaining defender on his way to the end zone.

A shanked punt on the Cougars’ subsequent possession left the Pirates just 50 yards to the end zone, which they negotiated in 10 plays. Hughes did the honors on this one, sprinting untouched around the left side on a bootleg. Freshman Ryan Casano, who added a 33-yard field goal late in the third quarter, added the third of his four PATs to make it 21-0 with 2:21 left in the half.

OCC padded the lead when a Southwest player bobbled the ball after the Cougars blocked a field-goal attempt and the Pirates recovered at the Cougars’ eight-yard line.

Ah-Hi, who finished with 89 yards on 21 carries, scored on the next snap.

Hughes completed 12 of 21 passes for 162 yards.

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