OCC beginning anew
The Orange Coast College football program begins serving a two-season postseason ban this fall. But Pirates Coach Kevin Emerson is buoyed by the assurance that there is no legislative prohibition on winning.
The Pirates did plenty of winning last season, when Emerson guided them to seven regular-season victories, a 5-1 Southern Conference mark (good for second place) and the program’s first bowl appearance since 2006.
OCC overcame an 0-2 start to win seven of its final eight regular-season games, marking only the second time in 22 seasons it won seven regular-season contests. It’s five conference triumphs – including one over rival Golden West, which was then unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the state – were the most by an OCC squad in 28 seasons.
Emerson, who coordinates the no-huddle offense, enters his third season at the helm with a virtually new roster, though three returning starters on the offensive line provide a foundation for potential success.
Kody Whitaker, who threw for 2,093 yards and 16 touchdowns while starting just seven games as a freshman in 2014, appears to have lost a battle for the quarterback job with James Harrelson, a freshman out of San Juan Hills High.
Whitaker received a medical redshirt last season, when he was hurt in the second game after having completed eight of 20 passes for 53 yards.
Harrelson, a 5-foot-10, 175-pounder who was six for six for 76 passing yards and two touchdowns in two varsity seasons as a backup, has not played since 2014.
When it comes to offensive production from 2015, the cupboard was virtually emptied, with those who produced nearly 97% of the team’s 1,495 rushing yards and nearly 96% of its 2,556 passing yards no longer on the roster.
Former tackle Will Martin (6-2, 300) has been shifted to center, while left guard Zack Hickman (6-3, 275) and left tackle Fredy Campos (6-4, 285) are also returning starters up front.
Max Spruill, a freshman out of Newport Harbor High, appears to have locked up the starting job at right guard.
Ryan Eachus (6-2, 250) returns at H-back, though he had just 10 receptions for 83 yards and four rushing attempts for three yards as a freshman.
Defensively, end Preston Hendry (53 tackles, including 5.5 sacks and 15.5 for losses) and safety Zoauntarrious Brunt (44 tackles and two interceptions) are the lone returning starters on a unit that produced 18 interceptions and scored six touchdowns, totals that ranked No. 6 and No. 2 in the state, respectively.
But Hendry sustained a left-hand injury in Thursday’s preseason scrimmage against Long Beach City College. The extent of the injury is not yet known.
The defense will be orchestrated by first-year coordinator Carl Lopez, a former assistant who rejoins the program after a year as an assistant at Whittier College. Lopez steps in for Wayne Schmida, who stepped down to spend more time with his family.
Emerson said the scheme will not change, though Lopez’s tactics will try to create more pressure.
Sophomore Melvin Irby (seven tackles as a freshman) is projected to start at outside linebacker, providing some experience to a linebacking corps that lost four players who started last season.
Freshman Kapono Laguisan, who had 10 sacks at Mater Dei High last season, was expected to bolster the linebackers, but he missed the scrimmage with a knee injury that Emerson said is still being evaluated.
Sherrod Paige, a sophomore newcomer from Florida, showed well during the scrimmage and will join Brunt as a starting safety.
Semaj Bilal, a sophomore transfer from Golden West, is a projected starter at cornerback. He made 11 tackles in seven games for the Rustlers.
Augustine Sarafino, who carried eight times for 26 yards last season, but lost two fumbles, is among a stable of tailbacks that also include John Simon, a freshman out of Battle Ground, Wash.
Sarafino, who missed the scrimmage with an injury, was hurt most of 2015 as well.
Sophomore A’Brae Booker-Curin and freshman Joey Cox had three catches apiece to lead the receiving corps in the scrimmage.
The Southern Conference no longer includes Santa Ana (1-9 last season), and the nonconference schedule figures to be more difficult with the addition of Ventura, which handed the Pirates a 53-39 bowl loss last season, perennially strong Mt. San Antonio, and resurgent Santa Monica, which went 11-0 and led the state in scoring (51 per game) last season.
OCC opens the season Sept. 3 against visiting East Los Angeles. Its first conference game is Oct. 15 at Palomar.
PIRATES
Division: National
Conference: Southern
Coach: Kevin Emerson (third season, 10-11)
Staff: Emerson (offensive coordinator); Carl Lopez (defensive coordinator, linebackers); Doug Smith (offensive line); Brandon Blackmon (secondary, recruiting coordinator); Mike Taylor (linebackers, special teams); Wally Grant (running backs); Chris Young (receivers); Ray de Avila (quarterbacks); Steve Tafua (defensive line); Frank Albers (offensive line); Bubba Gonzalez (defensive line)
2015 season: 7-4, 5-1 in conference (second place). Lost Beach Bowl at Ventura, 53-39
Offensive scheme: No-huddle
Defensive scheme: 4-3
Returning starters: offense (four); defense (two)
Returning with honors: None
SCHEDULE
September
3 – East Los Angeles
10 – at Canyons
17 – Ventura
24 – at Santa Monica, 1 p.m.
October
1 – Mt. San Antonio
15 – at Palomar*
22 - at Grossmont*, 1 p.m.
29 – Golden West*
November
5 – Fullerton*
12 – at Saddleback*
*denotes conference game
All games 6 p.m., unless noted
