Football: Bucs looking for revenge

Tony Altobelli

FULLERTON - Going by the record books, it’s Orange Coast College’s

turn against host Fullerton Saturday at 7 p.m. in the 1999 football

season opener.

Since 1993, the Pirates and Hornets have gone back and forth in the

series, with no team winning twice in a row since OCC repeated in 1992

and ’93.

Pirates Coach Mike Taylor said both he and his team are looking

forward to Saturday’s matchup.

“We just want to get Thursday and Friday over with and play for real,”

Taylor said. “We’re pretty upbeat and we’re excited about getting this

thing going.

“I was extremely pleased with our overall effort in Friday’s scrimmage

against Santa Monica,” Taylor continued. “Obviously, there were some

mistakes made with certain little things and we’ve spent the week

correcting them and making adjustments.”

With both teams ranked near the bottom last year in both rushing and

passing defense, look for both teams to be aggressive offensively.

With an entire returning backfield, including quarterback Jared Flint

and running backs Raymond Ohrel, Devon Griffin and Jimmie Banks, the edge

on offense should go to the Pirates.

Ohrel (Newport Harbor High) showed the moves, power and speed of a

top-notch running back during Friday’s scrimmage, while Flint has the

natural ability, tremendous arm strength and a year of starting at this

level under his belt.

Another thing in OCC’s favor is that it’s the opening game. Or maybe

not.

In 50 years of football at OCC, the Pirates have an impressive 30-18-3

record in opening-day games, but have lost six straight openers,

including last year’s 34-24 loss to the Hornets.

Leading the offense for the Hornets is sophomore running back Prescott

Hill. He ran for 79 yards against the Pirates last season and was a

first-team All-Mission Conference selection as a running back and kickoff

returner.

“He’s a very good player and he’s someone we’re definitely keeping an

eye on,” Taylor said.

With the departure of Kevin Rodriguez, quarterback Greg Garand will

look to take a majority of the snaps for the Hornets. And, according to

Taylor, he has the basic tools to be successful.

“He’s 6-foot-2, 210 pounds and he has a good arm for them,” Taylor

said.

Taylor believes the key to the Hornets’ success on offense it their

offensive line.

The Pirates will have to not only get through second-team,

all-conference guard David Hong, but will have to try to match up against

6-3, 320-pound center Ryan Smith.

“As far as their offense goes, it’s kind of hard to tell from one

scrimmage what their game plan is,” Taylor said. “It’s just too early to

tell.”

In terms of the Fullerton’s defense, Taylor is impressed with the

athletic play of some of the Hornets, especially linebacker Todd Frazier.

“They’re not quite as big as Santa Monica was,” Taylor said. “But I

think there are much better athletes on Fullerton’s squad.”

OCC heads into opening night without one of its key players.

Linebacker Wallace Wong will miss the first two games of the season

with a sprained right knee.

The Pirates and the Hornets each finished 3-7 last season.

The Hornets lead the series, 28-18-3, since the two first met in 1948.