OCC faces falling Comets

Barry Faulkner

Palomar Community College football, a perennially powerful program

that produced a 54-11 record the previous six seasons, is smarting

from a 1-6 campaign that includes six straight losses.

But the Comets should not be expecting any sympathy from

struggling visitor Orange Coast, which travels to San Marcos’ Mission

Hills High for today’s 1 p.m. Mission Conference American Division

game.

“They’re a lot like us,” said OCC Coach Mike Taylor, whose Pirates

are 1-6, 1-1 in the division. “[The Comets] have played well at

times. They’re not as good up front as they’ve been.”

Palomar, 0-2 against division foes, usually plays well against

OCC, having won seven of the last eight meetings, including a

three-game winning streak. In that winning skein, the Comets have

outscored the Pirates, 108-11.

Palomar, built to prominence by San Diego State Coach Tom Craft

and now guided by third-year head man Joe Early, has had trouble

outscoring anyone lately. During their six-game skid, which includes

last week’s 41-31 loss to Golden West, the Comets have surrendered

32.5 points per game, while scoring just 17.3 per contest.

OCC, meanwhile, has scored more than 17 just once this season -- a

36-19 loss to Los Angeles Southwest in Week 2 -- and it’s 101 points

this season rank last in the 12-team conference.

Even when the Pirates have moved the ball, they have had trouble

finishing drives with points. They have made just 3 of 9 field-goal

attempts and of the 19 times they have advanced to at least the

opponent’s 21-yard line, they have failed to score eight times.

The Pirates are led offensively by sophomore quarterback Kyle

Basanez. He has completed 82 of 172 for 1,154 yards and five

touchdowns, with four interceptions.

Freshman tailback Matt Padilla (328 yards on 69 carries) is OCC’s

leading rusher, while freshman Eric Lauderdale has a team-high 21

receptions for 230 yards.

Palomar’s offensive catalyst is 5-foot-5, 170-pound sophomore

Speedy Anthony, who ranks No. 2 in the conference in all-purpose

rushing (148.1 yards per game, including rushing and returns,

trailing only Santa Ana sophomore and Newport Harbor High product

Dartangan Johnson).

Anthony has gained 335 yards on 75 rushing attempts and has logged

227 and 369 yards returning punts and kickoffs, respectively.

“He’s their go-to guy,” Taylor said of Anthony.

Tony Paoli, a sophomore transfer from UNLV, is the Comets’

starting quarterback. He has thrown for 739 yards and five

touchdowns, but has thrown eight interceptions in 136 attempts.

Palomar’s leading receiver is sophomore tight end John Mulchrone

(32 catches for 263 yards and three TDs).