Pirates fall to Mt. SAC

The Orange Coast College football team’s attempt to rally for an upset Saturday was done in by a goal-line stand and a goal-line fall.

Mount San Antonio stuffed the OCC offense after it had first-and-goal at the two-yard line early in the third quarter, and a would-be 34-yard touchdown pass to A’Brae Booker-Curin early in the second quarter resulted in a touchback, when the Pirates running back fumbled the ball while attempting to dive across the goal line.

Without those two potential touchdowns, the Mounties (3-2), ranked No. 13 in the state, were able to maintain the lead they seized early, then pull away with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to earn a 35-19 nonconference win at OCC.

Orange Coast (2-3), ranked No. 14 in Southern California, concludes a rugged nonconference schedule that Coach Kevin Emerson will gladly put behind him. The Pirates have a bye next week, before opening Southern Conference play at Palomar on Oct. 15.

“I think we’re figuring things out,” Emerson said. “I’m excited for league. I have to put this game behind us and we have to look forward.”

After surrendering 14 points in the first 4:23 on Saturday, the Pirates were progressing toward that comeback, thanks to a suddenly stingy defense and three touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Kody Whitaker.

Whitaker’s third touchdown toss, a 15-yard hookup with James Rutledge, helped OCC pull within 21-19 with 10:26 left in the game.

But a pooch kickoff gave the Mounties possession at their own 40-yard line and they used three passes to cover 54 of the 60 yards to up the lead to 28-19.

The touchdown ended a run of 10 straight possessions without a score for the Mounties, who then tacked on by driving 69 yards on seven plays to finalize the scoring with 4:39 left.

Whitaker finished with 257 passing yards, though he was 18 for 42 with two interceptions, one more than he had thrown through the first four games.

OCC also lost two fumbles and allowed 458 yards of offense on 76 Mount San Antonio plays.

Booker-Curin, converted before the fourth game from receiver to running back, had 94 yards on 11 rushing attempts. He also added 76 yards on five receptions to help the Pirates match the visitors with 21 first downs.

Rutledge had 79 yards on four catches, including touchdowns of 13 and 15 yards, and Joey Cox caught a 15-yard scoring pass for his seventh of the season.

Freshman cornerback Sharky Reza had his fourth interception of the year and sophomore safety Sherrod Paige picked off a pass that set up the OCC drive that stalled on the Mounties’ two-yard line.

OCC finished with 370 yards of offense on 70 snaps, but punted 10 times, twice more than the Mounties.

Edgar Segura rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and Sateki Finau added 99 yards and one touchdown on 15 rushing attempts for the winners.

OCC defensive end Daniel Garcia had eight tackles, as did linebacker Charlie Morries, who was filling in for Brandon Safford, who is out with a separated shoulder.

“We spotted them [two touchdowns] right off the bat and you can’t put yourself in that hole,” Emerson said.

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SCORE BY QUARTERS

Mt. SAC 14 – 7 – 0 – 14– 35

OCC 6 – 6 – 0 – 7 – 19

FIRST QUARTER

MSAC – Flemings 5 run (Gracia kick), 11:37.

MSAC – Segura 16 run (Gracia kick), 9:21.

OCC – Rutledge 13 pass from Whitaker (kick blocked), 7:10.

SECOND QUARTER

MSAC – Segura 10 run (Gracia kick), 13:26.

OCC – Cox 15 pass from Whitaker (kick failed), 0:33.

FOURTH QUARTER

OCC – Rutledge 15 pass from Whitaker (Silva kick), 10:26.

MSAC – Stammetti 1 run (Gracia kick), 9:05.

MSAC – Finau 26 run (Gracia kick), 4:39.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

MSAC – Segura, 18-114, 2 TDs.

OCC – Booker-Curin, 11-94.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

MSAC – Stammetti, 15-29-2, 188.

OCC – Whitaker, 18-42-2, 257, 3 TDs .

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

MSAC – Salter, 3-79.

OCC – Rutledge, 4-79, 2 TDs; Booker-Curin, 5-76.