JC Football Preview: OCC vs. Fullerton

Orange Coast (0-3) vs. Fullerton (2-1)

When/where: Saturday, 7 p.m. at OCC

Key Pirates: So. WR Mark Munson (21 receptions for 271 yards and two TDs); OT Zach Bateman; So. MLB Paco Potter (32 tackles); So. DT Ra’Shon Howard (27 tackles).

Key Hornets: Fr. QB Joey Verhaegh (595 yards, three TDs passing); Fr. RB Khalil Wilson (193 yards, one TD rushing); Fr. LB Rocky Taloa (18 tackles, one sack); So. LB Jarrot Thomas (17 tackles).

Breakdown: The visiting Hornets are ranked No. 3 in Southern California and No. 7 in the state, with their lone loss to Mt. San Antonio, which is ranked No. 1 in SoCal and No. 2 in the state ... This game opens Southern Conference play for both teams ... OCC first-year head man Kevin Emerson is the only one of the school’s seven all-time coaches to begin his career 0-3, though all three losses are to teams ranked in SoCal’s top 20 ... OCC freshman Kody Whitaker is scheduled to start at quarterback for the first time, replacing freshman Alec Dombkowski ... Whitaker threw for two TDs, while completing seven of 16 attempts for 127 yards without an interception when he came off the bench in a 39-31 loss last week at Moorpark ... OCC ranks 36th among 37 SoCal teams in yards allowed per game (503) and rushing defense (227 yards surrendered per contest) ... The Pirates are tied for No. 2 in SoCal in turnover ratio (even) ... Fullerton is minus-four in turnover ratio and ranks No. 5 in SoCal in rushing defense (88.3 yards allowed per game) ... The Hornets lead the series, 36-21-3, and have won four straight and six of the last seven against the Pirates ... In the last three meetings, Fullerton has a 160-37 scoring advantage, including a 63-21 win last season and a 59-6 romp in 2012 ... The 1,556 points allowed all-time to Fullerton are the most to any OCC opponent ... OCC gets a bye next week, then plays host to nonconference foe Los Angeles Pierce on Oct. 11 ... A reunion tailgate party in honor of former OCC coach Dick Tucker will begin a 6 p.m. on the Fitness Center Patio at the north end of the stadium Saturday. Suggested donation of $10 per person includes food and admission to the game. RSVP to Liz Parker at [email protected] or (714) 432-5707.

— Barry Faulkner