JC Football: Victory Flag belongs to OCC

The Orange Coast College offense made hay by taking what the Santa Ana defense gave it on Saturday. The OCC defense, meanwhile, was more intent on taking what it wanted.

The result was a 36-30 Southern Conference home football victory that lifted the Pirates (2-6, 1-3 in conference) out of a last-place tie with the Dons (3-5, 0-4).

Utilizing a short passing game that was encouraged by an eight-yard cushion given OCC receivers by Santa Ana cornerbacks, Pirates sophomore receiver Mark Munson tied the school single-game record with 14 receptions. Munson, who came in second in the state in receiving yards per game, and was tied for fourth in Southern California in receptions, amassed 147 receiving yards, including a 50-yard catch-and-run on a quick flip to the flat. He also completed a double pass for a 38-yard gain.

OCC freshman quarterback Kody Whitaker completed 33 of 49 passes for 293 yards and one touchdown, with 22 of those completions producing fewer than 10 yards.

And OCC freshman running back Clayton Howard netted 92 yards on 27 rushing attempts.

The OCC defense, which had allowed 448 yards per game coming in to rank No. 34 among 37 Southern California teams in that department, was hardly short on creating big plays of its own.

Freshman outside linebacker Mike Hayden tackled a receiver in the end zone for a safety early in the second quarter, a period in which the Pirates scored 19 points, 10 of which came off turnovers.

Sophomore outside ‘backer Paul Swanson forced a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Gilbert Gildersleeve to set up a 21-yard Griff Amies field goal that put OCC in front, 15-14, with 6:48 left before halftime.

On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Swanson, who made half of the Pirates’ four sacks and shared the team lead with 10 tackles, made a diving interception at the Dons’ 37-yard line to set up a five-play touchdown drive that created a 22-14 advantage.

Including a nine-play, 65-yard touchdown drive capped by one of the Pirates’ three one-yard scoring runs, OCC used just 3:34 off the clock to produce 17 of its 19 second-quarter points and gain both the lead and momentum.

Santa Ana scored late in the first half and three plays into the third quarter to take a 28-22 lead, but Munson’s 50-yard scoring reception allowed OCC to answer back just seven plays later and claim the lead for good with 10:57 left in the third quarter.

A wayward punt snap that bounded out of the end zone for a safety pulled the Dons within six points, and the Pirates kept the door open when Amies kissed a 34-yard field-goal attempt off the left upright to keep it a one-score game with 1:34 left.

But freshman safety Joseph Jackson halted the Dons’ last-ditch comeback attempt by intercepting a pass at his own 10-yard line with two seconds left.

“The defense stepped up when it had to,” said first-year OCC Coach Kevin Emerson, whose program snapped a five-game conference losing streak, dating back to last season. By capturing the Victory Flag that goes to the annual OCC-Santa Ana winner, the Pirates prevented the Dons from a third-straight triumph over OCC that would have evened the series at 32 wins apiece. “[The defense] gave us two big turnovers [in the second quarter] and we turned those into points. That was the difference.”

OCC forced three turnovers, while failing to commit one of its own to improve to plus-three in turnover ratio for the season. Santa Ana’s uncharacteristic turnover allotment dropped it to minus-two in turnover ratio for the season.

But more than not turning the ball over, the short passing attack allowed OCC to consistently move the chains, as it amassed 30 first downs and reeled off 96 offensive plays. Santa Ana, which was out-gained, 444 total yards to 376, had 19 first downs with 74 offensive snaps.

Only four of Santa Ana’s 36 rushing attempts produced double-digit yards, and the biggest gain was 18.

Only two of the Dons’ 17 pass completions netted more than 13 yards.

“Our defense really stood tough,” said Munson, whose 61 receptions this season put him two shy of the school single-season record set by Ray Ohrel in 1999. Munson, who matched Ohrel’s single-game record for receptions on Saturday, also has 936 receiving yards with two games left. He is seven yards away from reaching the No. 2 spot in OCC single-season annals and, with two games left, has a chance to surpass the school season receiving yardage record of 1,190 held by Junior Tagaloa (1987). “A couple times, our offense had just sat down on the bench when [the OCC defense] made a play and gave us a shot to go right back on the field. I’m really proud of the defense today.”

Swanson, who took over the team lead in tackles this season (63), was similarly impressed by Munson and offense.

“God blessed us with a great player this year,” Swanson said of Munson, a transfer from Texas. “It’s just amazing the way he continues to make plays week-in and week-out. I love watching him play.

“And offense was just tick-tacking away, picking up a few yards at a time,” Swanson said. “You have to move the chains and stay on the field. It was a great showing by our whole team today and it’s so nice to get a win.”

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Orange Coast 36, Santa Ana 30

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Santa Ana 14 – 7 – 7 – 2 — 30

Orange Coast 3 – 19 – 14 – 0 — 36

FIRST QUARTER

OCC – Amies 31 FG, 9:10.

SA – Suidzinski 82 pass from Faletoi (Gleason kick), 8:51.

SA – Faletoi 1 run (Gleason kick), 3:22.

SECOND QUARTER

OCC – Safety: Hayden tackles receiver in end zone, 14:15.

OCC – Pogue 1 run (Amies kick), 8:21.

OCC – Amies 21 FG, 6:48.

OCC – C. Howard 1 run (Amies kick), 4:47.

SA – Mahan 13 pass from Faletoi (Gleason kick), 0:29.

THIRD QUARTER

SA – Dunn 46 pass from Truelove (Gleason kick), 13:38.

OCC – Munson 50 pass from Whitaker (Amies kick), 10:57.

OCC – C. Howard 1 run (Amies kick), 1:18.

FOURTH QUARTER

SA – Safety: punt snap out of end zone, 13:11.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

SA – Truelove, 9-44.

OCC – C. Howard 27-92, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

SA – Truelove, 11-30-2, 129, 1 TD; Faletoi, 6-7-0, 130, 2 TDs.

OCC – Whitaker, 33-49-0, 293, 1 TD.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

SA – Dunn, 5-99.

OCC – Munson, 14-147, 1 TD; Holman, 6-58.