Holley ailing for Pirates?

The Orange Coast College football team emerges from its bye week with a slightly different look on offense as it heads to El Cajon to meet Grossmont today at 1 p.m. in a National Division game. But that might not be the good news Pirates fans had hoped for.

Sophomore tailback Ray Holley, whose 166 rushing yards per game rank No. 2 in the state, is still nursing a strained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, which he sustained but managed to play through in the Pirates’ 33-27 overtime victory over Santa Ana on Oct. 17.

With 998 rushing yards on 190 carries and 11 of the team’s 12 rushing touchdowns, Holley and a swarming defense have been the formula for success for OCC (5-1, 1-1 in the division), ranked No. 12 in Southern California.

“[Holley] will not be able to carry the ball 35 times,” OCC Coach Mike Taylor said. “We’ll have to figure out just how much he is going to play.”

If Holley is limited, an even bigger burden figures to fall on the shoulders of the passing game and freshman quarterback Ethan Whitsell, who is making his first career start.

Whitsell, who has come off the bench in relief of Kyle Manning the last two games, has not exactly dazzled with his arm. He has completed six of 19 passes (31.6%) for 43 yards. He has not thrown an interception or a touchdown pass.

Taylor said Manning (47 for 117 for 590 yards with eight interceptions and three TD passes) will also play.

Taylor said Kevin Ivey and Israel Lee, who have combined for 51 yards on 18 attempts this season, will also see action at tailback.

The Pirates will need all the offense they can muster to keep up with the Griffins (6-1, 1-1), ranked No. 9 in Southern California.

Grossmont, which fell from the unbeaten ranks with a 30-17 setback on Oct. 17 against a Fullerton team that handed OCC its lone loss, is averaging 37.5 points per game.

OCC has held teams to 21.5 points per game, largely due to limiting foes to 44.5 rushing yards per contest, third-best in the state.

Sophomore outside linebacker Jimmy Keating leads the way with 45 tackles, nine of which have been for losses.

Outside linebacker Travis McNaughton, middle linebacker Travis Sanford, tackle Kevin Borton, ends Aaron Henry (four sacks) and Bryce Brantley (a team-leading five sacks), and safeties Mike Patrick and Keahi Raikes have also been stalwarts.