COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : OCC Makes the Most of Field Position in 28-6 Victory

COSTA MESA —  Orange Coast took advantage of good third-quarter field position to score two touchdowns in a 28-6 Mission Conference Central Division football victory over Rancho Santiago Saturday at OCC.

OCC started its second possession of the third quarter at the Rancho Santiago 15 after a personal foul penalty on the punt return. OCC lost four yards on the first two plays, but quarterback Todd Mather completed a 17-yard scoring pass to Ryan Blanchard, who was one of two receivers open in the back of the end zone. The touchdown gave OCC a 21-6 lead with 5 minutes 54 seconds to play in the quarter.

Rancho Santiago’s offense then went three plays and punted, and the Pirates started their next possession at their 37.

This time, OCC went nine plays, scoring on a five-yard run by Kevin Gillian. Mather set up the touchdown by scrambling for 18 yards on the previous play.

After Gene Adair made his fourth extra point, OCC led, 28-6, with 2 minutes 46 seconds left in the third. OCC is 5-2 heading into Saturday’s home game against Saddleback, the top-ranked team in the J.C. Grid-wire national poll.

OCC running back Eric Washington scored on runs of 16 and four yards in the first half as OCC led, 14-6. Washington, who didn’t play in the fourth quarter, had 70 yards in 13 carries.

Rancho Santiago mounted a solid drive late in the half and had a second down at the OCC four with about a minute to play. But running back Robert Clifford fumbled as he was hit in the center of the line, and it was recovered by OCC defensive lineman Efriam Miranda.

OCC’s defense, which was embarrassed a week ago in the second half of a 41-25 loss to El Camino, was much more solid against Rancho Santiago.

The Dons’ Juan Garcia rushed for 76 yards in the first half but was held to 26 in the second. He still finished with a game-high 102 yards.

Rancho Santiago quarterback Gabe Garcia was 10 of 14 for 109 yards in the first half, including a seven-yard scoring pass to James Lochner in the first quarter. But he was only two of six for one yard in the second half.

“We played a lot better in the second half than in the first on defense,” OCC Coach Bill Workman said.