‘Good things’ expected from OCC

Orange Coast College has replaced its 11-year-old football playing surface. And after a 3-7 debut season that included monumental roster turnover and turmoil following a late hiring, Coach Kevin Emerson is more than eager to consider the new Field Turf a clean slate.

By the fourth game of an 0-4 start last fall, the Pirates were down to their fourth quarterback. And when they recorded their first win the following week, their sideline had about half as many players as were in uniform for the preseason scrimmage.

But with a full offseason to recruit, develop returning players and forge some continuity and familiarity, Emerson enters the 2015 campaign that opens Saturday at Chaffey College at 6 p.m. with more comfort and confidence.

“I feel like we’re definitely a better football team than we were last year,” Emerson said. “I think we should be able to compete into the fourth quarter and we have a group of guys who care about each other and are willing to work hard. I expect good things from this football team.”

There were a number of good things in 2014, including a thrilling 42-41 season-ending victory at Grossmont that gave the Pirates as many as two conference wins for only the second time in seven seasons.

Another positive was the play of then-freshman quarterback Kody Whitaker, who triggered a no-huddle offense — orchestrated by Emerson — that ranked seventh in the state and fourth in Southern California with nearly 262 passing yards per game.

Whitaker, who opened the season fourth on the depth chart as a prospective greyshirt, threw for 2,093 yards and 16 touchdowns on 175 completions. The yards and completions rank No. 3 and No. 2, respectively, in OCC single-season annals.

“We went from our first-string quarterback to our fourth string in a matter of [three games],” said Emerson, reflecting on a season-ending injury to preseason starter Aaron Crone, who was replaced by Alex Dombkowski.

Dombkowski started the first three games, the first of which he left with a minor injury and replaced by the No. 3 signal-caller. Dombkowski then abruptly quit after being benched in favor of Whitaker during the third contest.

Then-freshman tailback Daniel Rodriguez rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener, but was lost for the year with a leg injury after just 23 carries.

Receiver Mark Munson, one of just 14 sophomores last fall, had a prolific season with 68 receptions for 989 yards and eight touchdowns. The receiving yards were No. 2 in the school’s single-season record book and his yards per game and total receptions ranked in the top five in the state in 2014.

Whitaker, who earned second-team all-conference honors, as did returning sophomore center Brett Landon and returning tailback Kyle White, is being challenged for the starting spot by sophomore Mason Dossey, a bounce-back from Humboldt State.

Emerson said both quarterbacks are expected to play Saturday.

Rodriguez opens with the edge over White (a team-best 581 yards and five TDs on 119 rushing attempts last season) at tailback, and sophomore middle linebacker Mike Hayden also returns after his 69 tackles ranked second on the team last season.

Hayden earned second-team all-conference laurels, as did cornerback Derrick Worthy, who also returns.

Emerson said the implementation of his offseason program, which he believes compares to that of a four-year college, has improved his players’ strength and fitness.

In the team’s preseason scrimmage Saturday, the improved explosiveness was most evident from the defensive line.

A virtually new receiving corps, and a two-deep depth chart on the offensive line that includes only one sophomore, will add uncertainty to the production level of a veteran backfield.

But Emerson’s play-calling helped an unheralded offense produce 398.4 yards per game last season, the second-best total in the program’s last 27 years.

OCC, however, ranked last in the 37-school Southern California Football Assn. last season in passing defense (285.3 yards per game) and 35th in total defense (457.3 yards per contest, second-worst in school history). The Pirates also surrendered 370 points, 100 more than it scored.

Also challenging, the schedule includes five teams ranked in the top 25 of the state coaches’ preseason poll, including conference rivals Fullerton (No. 5), Golden West (No. 12), Palomar (No. 24) and Saddleback (No. 25), as well as week 2 nonconference opponent Cerritos (No. 10).

So while Emerson’s optimism is not unfounded, achieving the program’s first winning season since 2006 might prove more difficult than simply replacing the carpet.

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ORANGE COAST PIRATES

Conference: Southern

Coach: Kevin Emerson (second year)

Staff: Emerson (offensive coordinator); Wayne Schmida (defensive coordinator); Doug Smith (offensive line); Mike Taylor (special teams); Wally Grant (running backs); Billy Neal (receivers); Brandon Blackmon (secondary); Thomas Pearson (linebackers); Al Korn (tight ends).

2014 Season: (3-7, 2-4 in conference)

Offensive scheme: No-huddle multiple

Defensive scheme: 4-3, multiple

Returning starters: four offense; two defense

Returning with honors: QB Kody Whitaker; MLB Mike Hayden; RB Kyle White; C Brett Landon

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2015 Schedule

September

5 – at Chaffey

12 – Cerritos (home), 1 p.m.

19 – Moorpark (home)

26 – at Fullerton* (at Yorba Linda High)

October

10 – at L.A. Pierce

17 – Palomar* (home)

24 – Saddleback* (home), 1 p.m.

31 – at Santa Ana*, 1 p.m.

November

7 – at Golden West* (at OCC)

14 – Grossmont* (home), 1 p.m.

*denotes conference game

All games 6 p.m., unless noted