Listless Pirates handled, 41-16

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Those hunting for positives in the Orange Coast College football team’s 41-16 season-opening nonconference loss at Chaffey on Saturday might focus on the fact that the Pirates’ offense, defense and special teams all scored points.

But after an otherwise disappointing performance by his team, OCC second-year coach Kevin Emerson pointed out that the deficiencies spanning all three phases of the game are ample and glaring.

When asked what he believes needs to be the emphasis for improvement moving forward, Emerson was anything but specific.

“Everything,” Emerson said of his team’s undeniable lack of effectiveness against the Panthers. “We didn’t tackle well. And then, offensively, we have to find an identity. We need to find out what we do well and then get some rhythm going. We have a lot of open holes right now that we have to work out and see if we can get them undone in one week.”

Things began with promise for the Pirates, who opened a 9-0 lead with some opportunism.

Sophomore cornerback Derrick Worthy returned an interception 87 yards on the game’s first series to put the visitors on top.

The OCC defense then forced turnovers on two of Chaffey’s next three possessions — a Joseph Jackson interception and a fumble forced by middle linebacker Mark Cushing that outside linebacker Christopher Proctor recovered. But the Pirates had two turnovers of their own in the ensuing moments and could not cash in.

After OCC kicker Dan Bjurman pushed a 32-yard field-goal attempt wide right on the second play of the second quarter, OCC held on defense and the ensuing Panthers’ punt resulted in a snap that deflected off an up back and was recovered by the Chaffey punter in the end zone for a safety.

Chaffey took the lead midway through the second quarter when Ryan Ricard returned a blocked punt 12 yards to put the hosts up, 14-9.

That’s how the score remained moments into the third quarter, but Chaffey’s first offensive snap after halftime resulted in a 70-yard touchdown run by tailback Quincey Ross that continued a string of 41 straight points for the Panthers.

An 86-yard run set up another Chaffey score that made it 34-9 and a 44-yard pass play from Levi Plante to Marquis Wimberly gave the Panthers a 41-9 advantage with 7:19 left in the game.

OCC’s offense finally produced points on its final possession, marching 63 yards on eight plays, capped by a one-yard plunge by sophomore fullback Ian Pogue.

OCC sophomore quarterbacks both failed to impress. Returning starter Kyle Whitaker, who threw for 2,093 yards and 16 touchdowns last fall, was intercepted on his first attempt and did not have a completion in five attempts before halftime. Whitaker wound up eight for 18 for 53 yards.

Humboldt State transfer Mason Dossey, who came off the bench, also threw an interception, and finished 10 for 19 for 82 yards.

Sophomore tailback Daniel Rodriguez managed 80 yards on 20 carries, but the Pirates had only six running plays gain at least 10 yards, none more than 12.

A 17-yard pass from Whitaker to Watts was the biggest gain of the night, until Dossey found Stefan Derrick for 32 yards to help key OCC’s late touchdown drive.

Defensively, freshman tackle Cody Meddaugh was in on three of OCC’s six sacks.

Emerson, whose team fell to Chaffey, 17-14, at home in last season’s opener, said he didn’t see his team’s listless play coming.

“It totally surprised me,” Emerson said.

OCC, now 0-5-1 in its last six openers, matches a program-worst six-year victory drought. The Pirates were 0-6 in season debuts from 1993 to 1998.

Chaffey 41, Orange Coast 16

SCORE BY QUARTERS

OCC 7 2 0 7 – 16

Chaffey 0 14 13 14 - 41

FIRST QUARTER

OCC – D. Worthy 87 interception return (Bjurman kick), 10:33.

SECOND QUARTER

OCC – Safety: punter recovers bad snap in end zone, 12:49.

Chaf – Wimberly 18 pass from Plante (Moreira kick), 8:25.

Chaf – Ricard 12 blocked punt return (Moreira kick), 7:25.

THIRD QUARTER

Chaf – Ross 70 run (Moreira kick), 11:15.

Chaf – Plante 2 run (run failed), 4:19.

FOURTH QUARTER

Chaf – Ross 2 run (Moreira kick), 14:11.

Chaf – Wimberly 44 pass from Plante (Moreira kick), 7:19.

OCC – Pogue 1 run (Bjurman kick), 3:36 .

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

OCC – Rodriguez, 20-80.

Chaf – Ross, 17-105, 2 TDs; Noble, 5-94.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

OCC – Dossey, 10-19-1, 82; Whitaker, 8-18-1, 53.

Chaf – Plante 12-19-2, 156, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

OCC – Watts, 4-25; Derrick, 3-51.

Chaf – Wimberly, 4-77, 2 TDs.