Gauchos outlast Pirates

MISSION VIEJO — At this advanced stage of the season, the Saddleback College football field, which is also home to two high school programs, is about 25% covered with dirt.

Those bald spots, as well as the remaining 75% natural grass surface is covered by the Saddleback offense.

Such was the case Saturday, as the host Gauchos overcame a prolific effort by visiting Orange Coast to claim a 48-38 Southern Conference National Division victory.

The Gauchos amassed 615 yards of offense, 354 of which came through the air, and 28 first downs on their way to what for them is a modest scoring performance. Three times this season, Saddleback (6-3, 4-1 in the division), ranked No. 6 in Southern California and No. 13 in the state, has scored at least 63 points and the Gauchos came in averaging 39 points per game.

“They’re the No. 3 offense in the state and they have a lot of quality guys to get the ball to,” said OCC Coach Mike Taylor, who praised his team’s effort.

OCC (4-4, 0-4), ranked No. 9 in SoCal and No. 19 in the state, meanwhile, which collected 369 of its 373 yards via the pass, produced its biggest scoring output of the season. It was the most points OCC has scored in its last 25 games, dating back to a 42-29 victory over Pasadena in 2006.

But, alas, it wasn’t enough for the Pirates, who saw their losing streak extended to four, seriously damaging their hopes of making a postseason bowl game.

Still, the Pirates, whose three previous division losses were by seven, one and eight points, proved they could hang with the best the division has to offer, despite often hanging their collective heads in disappointment as they left the field.

In a game of offensive fireworks, the difference may have been a special teams play, just moments after OCC scored on the final play of the third quarter to pull even, 31-31.

Saddleback returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards to the OCC 49-yard line, then completed a pass for a 26-yard gain. But a holding penalty and two incomplete passes by sophomore quarterback Brian Shrock (17 for 27 for 330 yards with one touchdown and one interception) created fourth-and 20 at the Pirates’ 24.

Christian Lepore lined up for what appeared to be a 41-yard field goal.

Instead holder Cameron Chadwick fielded the snap, rose to his feet and rolled to his left, before flipping a pass to Ricky Pemasa, who ran untouched for a touchdown with 12:46 left in the game.

“We were trying to block the field goal,” Taylor said. “That was a good play by Saddleback and you have to give [it] credit.”

OCC sophomore receiver Cameron Hall made that lead fleeting, catching a short flip from sophomore quarterback Taylor Hughes, sidestepping a charging cornerback and sprinting for an 81-yard touchdown on the first play after the ensuing kickoff.

Saddleback, as it did seemingly all night, answered, capping a two-play drive with a 39-yard TD run by Jai Morris, to take the lead for good.

OCC’s final two possessions ended in interceptions and Saddleback added a 32-yard Lepore field goal to ice the triumph with 46 seconds left.

Hughes, harried most of the evening and twice knocked out of the game after being crumpled by Gauchos defenders, finished 18 of 34 for 369 yards passing, with four TDs and two interceptions.

Hughes was nailed for four of Saddleback’s five sacks, but seven times connected with receivers for gains of at least 20 yards.

Hughes’ touchdown tosses were for 30 yards to Ricky Carroll, 21 to Hall, who made a diving catch to wrestle the ball away from a defender in the end zone, 20 yards to tight end Anthony Vidal and the aforementioned 81-yarder to Hall.

Shrock, however, nearly matched Hughes’ aerial proficiency and the Gauchos added a solid running game to overcome the scrappy Pirates.

Morris carried 17 times for 118 yards and three TDs, while Micah Abrea-Laybron chipped in 91 rushing yards on 21 attempts.

Hall had five catches for 156 yards, while Carroll hauled in six passes for 66 yards.

Jay Wisner led 10 Saddleback pass catchers with 70 yards on five receptions.

Defensive end Dean DeLeone recovered a fumble to set up OCC’s first touchdown and safety-outside linebacker Keahi Raikes intercepted a pass and also recovered a fumble for the Pirates.

SADDLEBACK 48, ORANGE COAST 38

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Orange Coast 7-10-14-7--38

Saddleback 14-10-7-17--48

FIRST QUARTER

OCC – Mokhtar 11 run (Casano kick), 10:29.

Sad – Pemasa 1 run (Lepore kick), 6:04.

Sad – Hutter 11 pass from Shrock (Lepore kick), 2:52.

SECOND QUARTER

Sad – Lepore 25 FG, 11:46.

OCC – Carroll 30 pass from Hughes (Casano kick), 10:17.

OCC – Casano 37 FG, 2:54.

Sad – Morris 3 run (Lepore kick), 0:46.

THIRD QUARTER

OCC – Hall 21 pass from Hughes (Casano kick), 8:47.

Sad – Morris 2 run (Lepore kick), 3:29.

OCC – Vidal 20 pass from Hughes (Casano kick), 0:00.

FOURTH QUARTER

Sad – Pemasa 24 pass from Chadwick (Lepore kick), 12:46.

OCC – Hall 81 pass from Hughes (Casano kick), 7:12.

Sad – Morris 39 run (Lepore kick), 6:23.

Sad – Lepore 32 FG, 0:46.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

OCC – Mokhtar, 8-38, 1 TD; Holley, 8-17; King, 2-4; Reilly, 2-minus 5; Hughes, 6-minus 26; team, 1-minus 24.

Sad – Morris, 17-118, 3 TDs; Abreau-Laybon, 21-91; Pemasa, 4-33, 1 TD; Shrock, 6-16; Garcia, 1-4; team, 1-minus 1.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

OCC – Hughes, 18-34-2, 369, 4 TDs; Reilly, 0-2-0.

Sad – Shrock, 17-27-1, 330, 1 TD; Chadwick, 1-1-0, 24, 1 TD; Ingram, 0-1-0.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

OCC – Hall, 5-156, 2 TDs; Carroll, 6-66, 1 TD; Vidal, 3-51, 1 TD; Holley, 3-26; Lefrandt, 1-67.

Sad – Wisner, 5-70; Hutter, 4-68, 1 TD; Pemasa, 2-26, 1 TD; Neal, 1-52; Leflore, 1-34; Enyard, 1-29; Groeniger, 1-27; Henry, 1-21; Abreau-Laybon, 1-20; Jai Morris, 1-7.

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