OCC football: Linebackers rock the house

Steve Virgen

Away from the hard-hitting on the football field, Orange Coast

College linebackers Dustin Davis, Martin Janzon and Justin Blackard have

the personality that could make up one of those teen boybands. Think

NSYNC, with muscles.

Dustin Davis: the rebel-like/stud with a goatee to support the look.

Martin Janzon: the charming, pretty-boy ladies man.

Justin Blackard: the laid-back, sweet-smile teddy bear.

But get these teen’s dreams on the field and they change their tune.

When it’s gametime, Davis, Janzon and Blackard have the strength that

is similar to a hard rock band. Think Pantera -- loud, in your face and

relentless.

Davis, Janzon and Blackard will be leading the defense into the

Pirates’ matchup against rival Golden West in OCC’s Mission Conference

Central Division opener at LeBard Stadium Saturday at 7 p.m.

Davis, who plays outside linebacker and is a team captain, said the

matchup against Golden West will be heated.

“(Golden West is) already talking some stuff that they’re going to

burn our defense,” Davis said. “They said that our offensive lineman

(Gary Lewellyn) is just a publicity stunt. I think it’s better to keep

your mouth shut and play.”

Be it Golden West or Pasadena, Davis will be ready to play regardless

of the rivalry. At Pasadena, Oct. 7, he racked up 14 tackles.

He said he loves playing linebacker because he gets to hit --

quarterbacks, running backs, anyone who is on the offense.

No one is safe.

“When you take a big, fat offensive lineman down, it’s the best,”

Davis said.

But the 6-1, 230-pound sophomore out of Mater Dei is still waiting to

latch onto an interception and take it to the house. When he gets in the

end zone, he already has a touchdown celebration prepared. It’s called

the “Sea Walk,” but before he could give a preview of the dance, he held

back.

“Let me get the points first and then we’ll all get to see it,” Davis

said.

Davis’ playfulness is a bit contrary to the Pirates’ character on

defense. OCC’s defense is about attitude and intimidation, Davis said.

“We’re called the Roughnecks,” Blackard said of the defense. “We’re a

bunch of scrappers. We don’t come here to look pretty, we come to kick

some butt.

They come to play o7 forsvarf7 -- oro7 defensef7 in Swedish,

Janzon’s native language. Janzon, OCC’s starting outside linebacker, was

born and raised in Sweden. He’s fluent in Swedish, German and English.

He’s been in America for the past two years and came here mainly to play

football.

In the upset win over Pasadena, 29-27, he recorded 12 tackles.

Whenever there was a tackle in the game, Janzon was sure to be in the

pile. His speed helps stuff the run. In the past two upset wins over Mt.

San Antonio and Pasadena, Janzon, just as Davis and Blackard, was a main

reason the Pirates held both opponents under 100 yards rushing, 69 for

PCC and 77 for Mt. SAC.

The 24-year-old acquired valuable experience from his service in the

army and playing in the World Cup, an international football tournament

in Sicily, Italy

“It was really good for me to get that type of football experience,”

Janzon said.

The football tournament was just about all the experience Janzon had

coming into OCC last year. Pirates Coach Mike Taylor has been impressed

with Janzon’s improvement. Out of the linebacker trio, Janzon’s play this

season has surprised Taylor the most.

“He’s playing very consistent,” Taylor said of Janzon. “He’s surprised

me the most, because he hasn’t played football that much.”

Last season, Taylor thought Janzon should have been an All-Conference

selection. Davis and Blackard were second-team All-Conference selections.

This season, the trio might be in line for first-team honors. Blackard is

surely on his way, especially after his performance at Pasadena.

He led the team with a game-high, 15 tackles -- nine were unassisted.

“I still think I can improve on that,” said Blackard, who is from

Bishop Gorman High in Nevada. Blackard said he will get better because

the defense is always improving.

“Our defense is a huge improvement just from last year,” Blackard

said. “Every position has gotten better. We just play better because

we’re not a bunch of individuals.”

The OCC linebacker trio has set the standard for the defense:

Teamwork. Davis, Janzon and Blackard rely on each other. They depend on

one another. When a ballcarrier goes down, tally another tackle with an

assist for each of them.

The linebackers’ play this season has been consistent because of its

desire to win, Davis said.

Taylor agrees.

“They bring a lot of experience,” Taylor said. “They get after it

because they want it. They are no-nonsense guys.”