OCC Football Preview vs. Chaffey

Orange Coast vs. Chaffey

When/where: Saturday, 6 p.m. at Chaffey

Key Pirates: So. MLB Mike Hayden; So. QB Kody Whitaker; So. RB Daniel Rodriguez; So. RB Kyle White.

Key Panthers: So. QB Levi Plante; So. WR Makeen Farha.

Breakdown: The Pirates open the season hoping to avenge a 17-14 season-opening nonconference loss to the Panthers last season ... Chaffey was 6-5 in 2014, while OCC was 3-7 under Coach Kevin Emerson, who begins his second season at the helm ... Whitaker threw for 2,093 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman, but may rotate with Humboldt State transfer Mason Dossey as they continue to be battle for the starting job, Emerson said ... Plante also topped 2,000 yards passing last season, when he threw for 11 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Plante also rushed for 354 yards and six TDs as a freshman ... The Panthers’ leading rusher and receiver last season were freshmen, but neither has returned for Coach Rob Hadeway, who is 15-7 entering his third season in charge ... Chaffey has gone to bowl games the last two seasons, while OCC’s last bowl appearance was 2006 ... Rodriguez rushed for 145 yards and two TDs last season against Chaffey, but an injury limited him to 26 yards the remainder of the season ... OCC is 0-4-1 in its last five openers and a loss would mean six straight winless openers, matching the longest drought in school history (it was 0-6 in season debuts from 1993 to 1998).

— Barry Faulkner