Faulkner: OCC defense turns tide

When the Orange Coast College defense takes the football from an opponent, a good part of the time it then hands it to an official ... after having scored a touchdown.

This penchant for points is just one feature of a revitalized unit that has helped the Pirates earn their first bowl appearance since 2006 and only their second seven-win season in 22 years.

OCC, which visits Ventura in the Beach Bowl on Saturday at 6 p.m., has six defensive touchdowns this season (five interception returns and another on a fumble return), tied for No. 2 among 69 schools in the state, and No. 1 among 37 Southern California teams.

Further, the Pirates rank No. 5 in the state with 18 interceptions and their 29 turnovers ranks No. 4 in Southern California. They rank seventh in SoCal in scoring defense (22.4 points per game) and have surrendered just 16.3 points per game in their seven wins.

This is a stark contrast to 2014, when the Pirates ranked last in SoCal and No. 68 in the state in passing yards allowed (285.3 per game), were No. 61 in the state in yards allowed per game (459.3) and No. 54 in the state in scoring defense (39 ppg).

In 2013, OCC ranked last among 70 teams in the state in scoring defense (44.2 ppg) and was No. 68 in yards allowed per contest (511). Also two years ago, the Pirates had just 12 turnovers, tied for last in the state.

In its seven seasons previous to this year OCC produced five combined defensive touchdowns.

“It’s part of a mentality we began to develop back in April,” said OCC Defensive Coordinator Wayne Schmida, who along with second-year head coach Kevin Emerson is working with the staff’s first full recruiting class this season. “We have what we call ‘Turnover Tuesdays.’ Basically, after Wednesday’s practice, the defense hits the sled for 10 minutes. But for every turnover they get in practice on Tuesday [and Wednesday], they cut 30 seconds off that 10 minutes. They have to get 20 turnovers to have zero sled time, which is a big incentive. It has given them a mentality that they have brought to Saturdays. And we have also stressed with them that when you do get a turnover, score. They have taken it to heart and it has really helped our whole team.”

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•Schmida said the overall difference on defense this season is talent, with the biggest jump in that department in the front four.

“[Freshman end] Cody Meddaugh really brought a physical quality to our team and a nastiness,” Schmida said. “And [freshman end] Preston Hendry is just super fast and athletic. Hendry has 13.5 tackles for losses, which is right near the top of the conference and Cody leads our team with six sacks and has seven tackles for losses.

“[At tackle, sophomore] Josh Odigie is probably the best defensive lineman in the conference because of his athleticism and work ethic. The way he moves his hands and feet up front, it’s hard for people to handle him and he creates an awful lot of havoc.”

Odigie has four sacks and 11.5 tackles for losses and his 47 tackles rank fifth on the squad, right behind Meddaugh (third with 51) and Hendry (48).

Sophomore starter Matt Andre and freshman Jonathan Jennings also have provided strong play at the other tackle spot, Schmida said.

Sophomore middle linebacker Mark Cushing, a bounce-back from Southwest Missouri State, leads the team with 85 tackles, as well as a take-charge attitude.

“Cushing has been a godsend,” Schmida said. “He is a savvy and strong player who is real instinctive and he has made a big difference for us.”

Cushing also had two interceptions and eight tackles for losses.

Sophomore returning starter Mike Hayden and fellow outside linebackers Christian Webb and Christopher Proctor, both freshmen, have rounded out a unit that has been consistently productive. Hayden, who missed three games with a knee injury, has 39 tackles, while Webb has 45 and Proctor 35.

In the secondary, freshman strong safety Brandon Worthy has a team-leading five interceptions, while his 52 tackles rank second on the squad.

Sophomore cornerbacks Derrick Worthy, an all-conference performer last season, and Joseph Jackson, who started at safety in 2014, have an identical 41 tackles and four interceptions. Jackson returned an interception 75 yards for a score and also scooped and scored with a fumble in last week’s 52-21 win over Grossmont.

Freshman safety Zoauntarrious Brunt (44 tackles and two interceptions), rounds out a starting unit that has been injury-free, though Brunt will likely miss the bowl game to attend his brother’s wedding, Schmida said.

Jackson is slated to shift back to safety to cover Brunt’s spot, while sophomore cornerback Gilbert Gildersleeve, who started as a freshman and has 22 tackles as a backup, will start at corner.

“We’re a zone team more than a man-to-man team, and our philosophy is bend, but don’t break,” Schmida said. “We want to keep everything in front of us, tackle well, eliminate the big plays and hopefully get some turnovers. We want to make the offense execute 16 to 18 plays to score.”

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•OCC (7-3), ranked No. 12 in the state, will face a supreme defensive challenge against No. 10-ranked Ventura (7-3), which has some gaudy offensive numbers. The Northern Conference runner-up ranks No. 1 in the state with 283 first downs, is No. 2 in yards per game (509.4), No. 3 in passing yards (326.9 per game) and No. 5 in scoring (42.7 ppg).