Football: Two in a row for OCC

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College running back Raymond Ohrel gave

Orange Coast College at quarterback “controversy” for exactly one drive

during the Pirates’ convincing 42-25 win over visiting Saddleback

Saturday night for the Bucs’ first 2-0 start since 1990.

After Ohrel (Newport Harbor High), led the troops in a special

one-back offense on the opening drive with a 47-yard pass to David

Castleton and a 14-yard touchdown run, OCC’s real quarterback, Jared

Flint put together one of the best night in OCC QB history.

“Ray was joking with me in practice about replacing me,” Flint said,

laughing. “He looked pretty good out there.”

Fresh off last week’s 23 completions, 361-yard performance at

Fullerton, Flint continued to impress by going 23 for 32 for 226 yards

and a school-record five touchdowns for the Pirates.

His five touchdowns eclipse the Pirates’ previous record of four, held

by five players, the last coming from Keith Jarrett against, of all

teams, Saddleback in 1987.

“It’s sounds like a cliche, but when the offense does well, the

quarterback gets a lot of the credit,” Flint said. “But I tell you, I had

a lot of help out there.”

Usually forgotten, but extremely productive, was Flint’s wall of

protection, the offensive line of Amara Dunzo, Joe Forkert, Jesse

Chagolla, Anthony Knutson and Apolonio Rodriguez, who allowed only one

sack and a couple of hurries and gave Flint ample time to pick apart the

Gauchos defense.

“Our line is a fairly young line and they did a great job for us

tonight,” Pirates Coach Mike Taylor said. “I think also that Saddleback

was afraid of our screen passes, so they sat back a little. All we did

was play catch out there.”

For the first half, that’s what it looked like as OCC had their way

against the Gauchos (1-1), scoring touchdowns on each of the first five

series.

After OCC scored to open the game, Saddleback answered back with

3-yard touchdown run from Malaki Lesa to tie the game at 7-7.

That’s when OCC ripped off 28 straight points, all on touchdown passes

by Flint, to send the game out of reach by halftime.

While David Castleton (five catches for 105 yards) and Justin Dale

(six catches for 56 yards) helped OCC into scoring territory, Flint’s

favorite touchdown target was tight end Ben Fredrickson, who tied a

school record with three TD catches.

Chris Jackson was the last Pirate to catch three touchdowns against

Southwestern College in 1994.

“They really bit on some of the play-action passes we threw,” Flint

said. “I don’t remember seeing Ben open in the end zone so many times.”

The old saying is “Take what the defense gives you,” and Flint did

just that, with 15 of his 23 completions being 10 yards or less.

“I have no problem dumping it off and letting the guys take care of

the rest,” Flint said. “We were very patient and it paid off for us.”

When he wasn’t throwing the ball, Ohrel did what he does best and

that’s grind out yards, which he did.

Ohrel rushed for 51 yards and one touchdown and caught five passes for

25 yards and caught a touchdown for the Bucs.

One of the biggest turning points came on the defensive side by OCC

defensive back Woody Otis.

With the Pirates leading, 21-7 and Saddleback trying to close the gap,

Otis made a hustling tackle on Willis Walker, turning a potential 69-yard

touchdown run into a 24-yard gain.

Two plays later on OCC’s 35-yard line, Otis rocked Oscar Montecinos

with a bone-jarring tackle, causing a fumble, which Otis recovered and

the Pirates scored again.

Taylor was also impressed with the way the Bucs’ defense reacted to

Saddleback’s Fly-T offense.

“It’s a confusing offense, but after we made some adjustments, we were

able to, for the most part, contain them,” Taylor said. “Plus, jumping

out to a big lead, forced Saddleback to change their offense.”

Eight receivers caught passes for OCC, including Gerard Fane, who

caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Flint.

Jimmie Banks led the Pirates rushing attack with 80 yards on 12

carries, 42 yards coming on the game’s final play of the game.

Next up, the Pirates will travel to Santa Ana (0-2) to take on the

Dons Saturday at 1 p.m.

Not getting to overjoyed with his two-game winning streak, Taylor is

looking to keep his team hungry and focused.

“We have to make sure we keep everything in perspective,” Taylor said.

“I told the guys to enjoy Sunday off and to be ready to go at it again on

Monday. The better we play, the more people we can get into the stands

and the better the atmosphere. So far, so good.”

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jared Flint--Fresh off of last week’s 23 completions,

361-yard performance at Fullerton, Flint continued to impress by going 23

for 32 for 226 yards and a school-record five touchdowns for the Pirates.