JC Football: Gauchos hammer Pirates

MISSION VIEJO — Whatever opening statement the Orange Coast College football team put forth was virtually forgotten in the wake of host Saddleback’s closing argument.

Facing a 17-0 deficit just more than 11 minutes into the Southern Conference game on Saturday, the Gauchos exploded for 37 straight points and went on to record a 57-24 triumph.

OCC did manage to outgain the state’s No. 1 passing attack, 289-283, through the air. But the Gauchos (4-4, 3-1 in conference), ranked No, 17 in Southern California, tripled OCC’s 80 rushing yards to amass 523 yards of total offense.

The Pirates (1-6, 0-3) collected 369 yards of total offense, but mustered just seven points after their initial surge.

The visitors scored on three of their first four possessions and when Clayton Howard bolted 51 yards on the first play after the Gauchos failed to convert on fourth-and-five, it appeared that the Pirates were making a case for a resounding upset.

But the Gauchos answered with touchdowns on their next four possessions, as a pair of OCC turnovers during that stretch helped turn the tide.

Trailing, 17-14, midway through the second quarter, Saddleback linebacker Connor Toohey returned an interception six yards to the OCC 30-yard line. Two plays later, Saddleback had the lead for good, after Mitchell Neal carried over from one yard out.

OCC appeared capable of responding with its ensuing possession, on which it drove to the Gauchos’ three-yard line. But Howard mishandled a first-down pitch and defensive end Kyle Kelley scooped up the fumble and ran 31 yards to set up an eight-play, 61-yard touchdown drive that added to the hosts’ lead.

An OCC punt snap out of the end zone for a safety with 46 seconds left in the half seemed to add an exclamation point to the Pirates’ emphatic collapse, allowing Saddleback to take a 30-17 advantage into intermission.

After the OCC defense forced the Gauchos to punt on their first possession of the second half, the hosts scored on their next three possessions and five of their next six to make the verdict unanimous.

OCC freshman quarterback Kody Whitaker completed 21 of 39 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. But he was intercepted twice as OCC committed three turnovers.

Turnovers, which had been a problem for the Gauchos coming in (they were minus-12 in turnover ratio their first seven games), were nonexistent for the winners Saturday.

After completing just two of his first nine passes, Saddleback quarterback Ricky Bautista connected on his final nine of the first half on his way to finishing 19 for 31 for 270 yards and two touchdowns.

OCC freshman receiver Davasyia Hagger had a career-best performance, compiling eight receptions for 117 yards and a pair of scores. Hagger, who consistently worked his way into open space in the seam of the defense, scored from five and 45 yards out, the latter to pull the Pirates within 37-24, with 6:33 left in the third quarter.

But Saddleback returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards to set up a short, four-play touchdown surge that denied the Pirates any thoughts of a comeback.

OCC sophomore tackle Re’Shon Howard and freshman cornerback Joseph Jackson each had nine tackles to lead a beleaguered OCC defense. Howard was credited with half of the Pirates’ three sacks.

Freshman safety Schneider Aladin, freshman middle linebacker Mike Hayden and sophomore defensive end Austin Brewer had eight tackles apiece for the Pirates.

OCC sophomore receiver Mark Munson had three receptions for 99 yards and also carried three times for 18 rushing yards. Munson’s lone pass, on a gadget play early in the third quarter, was incomplete.

Saddleback used 10 different receivers, five of which shared the team lead with three catches. Included in the receptions leaders was sophomore R.J. Dedrick, whose 46 catches entering the game ranked No. 2 in the state and were two more than No. 3-ranked Munson.

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Saddleback 57, Orange Coast 24

SCORE BY QUARTERS

OCC 17 – 0 – 7 – 0 – 24

Saddleback 7 – 23 – 17 – 10 – 57

FIRST QUARTER

OCC – Amies 41 FG, 13:21.

OCC – Hagger 5 pass from Whitaker (Amies kick), 6:37.

OCC – Howard 51 run (Amies kick), 3:55.

Sad – Clark 19 pass from Bautista (Harris kick), 1:03.

SECOND QUARTER

Sad – Collins 11 pass from Bautista (Harris kick), 9:21.

Sad – Neal 1 run (Harris kick), 7:26.

Sad – Martinez 5 run (Harris kick), 1:16.

Sad – Safety: punt snap out of end zone, 0:46.

THIRD QUARTER

Sad – Buchanan 1 run (Harris kick), 8:39.

OCC – Hagger 45 pass from Whitaker (Amies kick), 6:33.

Sad – Buchanan 2 run (Harris kick), 4:17.

Sad – Harris 34 FG, 0:48.

FOURTH QUARTER

Sad – Harris 33 FG, 9:11.

Sad – Yancy 19 run (Perez kick), 4:14.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

OCC – Howard, 16-85.

Sad – Yancy, 10-75, 1 TD; Buchanan, 10-60, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

OCC – Whitaker, 21-39-2, 289, 2 TDs .

Sad – Bautista, 19-31-0, 270, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

OCC – Hagger, 8-117, 2 TDs; Munson, 3-99.

Sad – Davis, 3-60.