Pirates rally by Comets

Add self-assuredness to the attributes exhibited by the streaking Orange Coast College football team.

The Pirates overcame deficits of 10-0 and 17-13 on their way to a 34-24 victory over visiting Palomar in a Southern Conference game Saturday.

The win extended OCC’s winning streak to four games, it’s longest since 2006, and also kept the Pirates (4-2, 2-0 in conference) in the Southern Division title hunt.

It was sound defense, a pair of fourth-down touchdowns and more big-play production from the sophomore passing combination of wideout Stefan Derrick and quarterback Mason Dossey that proved too much for a Palomar squad that dropped a second straight game for the first time all season.

The Comets (3-4, 1-2) appeared motivated in the early going to bounce back from an upset loss to previously winless Moorpark last week.

The visitors cashed a fumble recovery into the game’s first score, a 30-yard pass from Austin Early to Kameron Calhoun with 10:13 left in the first quarter.

After an exchange of field goals, Dossey sprang Darrel Watts with a kick-out block on a 21-yard end-around that knotted the score with 5:32 left before halftime.

And a Dan Bjurman 34-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the half helped OCC earn an intermission lead, despite being sacked five times and struggling against an aggressive Comets defensive scheme.

“[The Comets] were bringing the heat tonight for sure,” said Dossey, who was sacked six times and tackled for a loss on four additional occasions. “We made some good adjustments at halftime and we figured out a way to get some points on the board.”

Those second-half adjustments kicked in after Palomar marched 79 yards on six plays to take a 17-13 lead. Daviente Sayles, a sophomore tailback who had 88 yards rushing and 64 more receiving, capped the drive with a two-yard run with 6:10 left in the third quarter.

But Derrick, who came in tied for the state lead with eight touchdown receptions, added to that total by getting behind the secondary and catching a 54-yard bomb from Dossey in stride to give OCC the lead for good with 4:19 left in the third period.

On OCC’s next possession, Dossey threw one up on fourth-and-14 and Dossey ran under it and made a diving catch in the end zone for a 34-yard score with 12:48 left in the game.

Four plays later, sophomore cornerback Derrick Worthy returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown and a commanding 34-17 cushion.

“They were trying to bracket cover Stefan in the beginning, but they made a few mistakes and they didn’t keep him in front of them,” said Dossey, who completed 19 of 30 passes for 257 yards without an interception. “We were able to capitalize and he got behind the defense. Stefan is a great player and obviously we have a good connection going.”

Derrick had eight catches for 170 yards, 126 coming after halftime.

Palomar finalized the scoring with 1:01 left, and OCC recovered the ensuing onside kickoff and ran out the clock to notch its fourth win for the first time in four seasons.

Brandon Worthy added an interception, his team-leading fifth, for OCC, which held Palomar rushers to three or fewer yards 23 times.

Freshman end Cody Meddaugh led OCC with eight tackles, including the Pirates’ only sack.

“We started off slow tonight on offense, but the defense picked us up,” Dossey said. “We made those adjustments at halftime and stuck with the game plan. We put our nose down and put up some points and it was a good win.”

The Pirates played without sophomore all-conference outside linebacker Mike Hayden (knee), whom Coach Kevin Emerson said may return as early as Saturday against Saddleback (1 p.m. at OCC).

OCC sophomore fullback Ian Pogue also left the game with a leg injury, but Emerson said Pogue believes it is not serious.

OCC produced just 70 yards on 44 rushing attempts, but finished with 327 yards of offense, just 12 fewer than the Comets.

“It’s hard to run on those guys, but we were able to make some big plays and make it happen tonight,” Emerson said.

ORANGE COAST 34, PALOMAR 24

Palomar 10 0 7 7 – 24

OCC 3 10 7 14 -- 34

FIRST QUARTER

Pal – Calhoun 30 pass from Early (Wilson kick), 10:13.

Pal – Wilson 24 FG, 5:46.

OCC – Bjurman 37 FG, 2:11.

SECOND QUARTER

OCC – Watts 21 run (Bjurman kick), 5:32.

OCC – Bjurman 34 FG, 0:07.

THIRD QUARTER

Pal – Sayles 2 run (Wilson kick), 6:10.

OCC – Derrick 54 pass from Dossey (Bjurman kick), 4:19.

FOURTH QUARTER

OCC – Derrick 34 pass from Dossey (Bjurman kick), 12:48.

OCC – D. Worthy 77 interception return (Bjurman kick), 11:15.

Pal – Sayles 31 pass from Early (Wilson kick), 1:01.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

Pal – Sayles, 29-88, 1 TD.

OCC – White, 12-45.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

Pal – Early, 15-26-2, 234, 2 TDs.

OCC – Dossey, 19-30-0, 257, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

Pal – Sayles, 5-64, 1 TD.

OCC – Derrick, 8-170, 2 TDs.