Orange Coast College football team's game plan is simple.
Give the ball to the No. 2 ranked running back in the state, Ray Holley, and take advantage of the No. 1 rushing defense that's held offenses to minus-42 yards on 70 carries.
That's what the Pirates did Saturday (Sept. 26) against Glendale College as Holley rushed for a touchdown on 27 carries for 171-yards, the defense held the Vaqueros to minus-29 yards on 34 carries and as a result, Coast wins 10-6 and is a perfect 4-0 this season.
"It was a little ugly at times, but we came back," head coach Mike Taylor said. "We had to score in the second half to win it and we ended up getting big run out of Ray. We played well when we had to play."
The ugly times Taylor described may refer to how Glendale (3-1) converted its fourth-and-20 situation to a 26-yard touchdown by Brian Williams to Steve Miller or the 10 penalties Coast was called for in the second half alone.
"Our nickel guy made a little mistake and didn’t play back," defensive coordinator Scott Orloff said of the fourth-and-20 play. "The big problem was we let the quarterback step up. We didn’t pressure him and gave him extra time. Our corner has to have that man and he got beat."
Williams, who threw the touchdown at the end of the first half, carried over the momentum to the second as he completed his first four throws.
However, the Pirates pass defense adjusted and got two interceptions off of Miller and he finished the game completing 12-of-31 for 132 yards.
The pass defense, ranked 62nd in the state averaging 244.3 yards per game coming into Saturday, held Glendale to a season-low 132 yards.
"Defense wins championships," said linebacker Jimmy Keating, who finished the game with 9 tackles (three solo), a sack and a fumble recovery. "We put it, and the coaches put it, on our shoulders and we just rised to the occasion."
Holley, again, proved why he's one of the premier backs in the state as he broke-out for a 59-yard run in the second half that gave the Pirates its only touchdown and a lead for good.
But it wasn't without a small price.
"On that last one, I think I threw up a little bit," he said.
The Pirates play in its first Orange Empire Conference game next week at Fullerton College Saturday and returns home Oct. 10 against Santa Ana College. Both games start at 6 p.m.
Defensive player Jimmy Keating: on the improved pass defense in the second half.
(We) knew the offense wasn't getting it going too well and (we) just had to step it up. Defense wins championships. Defense wins games. We put it, and the coaches put it, on our shoulders and we just rised to the occasion.
Keating: on why the defense had so much success.
It was really easy to read. We had great schemes, we knew what they liked to do, we knew the quarterback liked to move in the backfield...It was a great game-plan the coaches came up with this week.
Head coach Mike Taylor: on what the team has been working on.
We thought our kids looked tired against Golden West at times so we ran them harder. It was hot, it wasn’t a lot of fun – you know they kind of stepped it up, rose to the occasion and put pressure on the quarterback.
Taylor: on things to work on his quarterback.
There were some passes Kyle (Manning) threw that were actually open and guys made drops or he overthrew some guys. He's got to get a little better for us to have an opportunity. (Opponents) are going to load up with nine guys in the box to stop Ray Holley.
Running back Ray Holley: on his work ethic setting him apart from the other teams' defenses.
I would like to say yes, but I don’t know how hard guys on the opposite side are working. They might be working just as hard but I feel like I have the heart and I don’t care how tired I’m going to get. I’m still going to run.
Holley: on the end of his 59-yard run that set up Coast's only touchdown.
I saw the light, got behind Chris Reihanifam and tried to go from there...On that last one, I think I threw up a little bit.
Defensive coordinator Scott Orloff: on not repeating last year's 4-0 start followed by six-straight losses.
That’s something we’re going to have to remind them. This is a whole different group of kids, especially at linebackers. You know even when we won last year, it wasn’t pretty. We weren’t doing a lot of good things (last year) but we’re doing a lot of good things (this year).
Glendale head coach and offensive cordinator John Rome: on what they need to work on.
Fundamentally, we need to get back on the drawing board offensively. We seem to lack an identity.
Rome: on OCC's defense that allowed its season-low 132 passing yards - 112 lower than its average.
Very stout. They did a great job. They played hard the whole game.
(We) knew the offense wasn't getting it going too well and (we) just had to step it up. Defense wins championships. Defense wins games. We put it, and the coaches put it, on our shoulders and we just rised to the occasion.
Keating: on why the defense had so much success.
It was really easy to read. We had great schemes, we knew what they liked to do, we knew the quarterback liked to move in the backfield...It was a great game-plan the coaches came up with this week.
Head coach Mike Taylor: on what the team has been working on.
We thought our kids looked tired against Golden West at times so we ran them harder. It was hot, it wasn’t a lot of fun – you know they kind of stepped it up, rose to the occasion and put pressure on the quarterback.
Taylor: on things to work on his quarterback.
There were some passes Kyle (Manning) threw that were actually open and guys made drops or he overthrew some guys. He's got to get a little better for us to have an opportunity. (Opponents) are going to load up with nine guys in the box to stop Ray Holley.
Running back Ray Holley: on his work ethic setting him apart from the other teams' defenses.
I would like to say yes, but I don’t know how hard guys on the opposite side are working. They might be working just as hard but I feel like I have the heart and I don’t care how tired I’m going to get. I’m still going to run.
Holley: on the end of his 59-yard run that set up Coast's only touchdown.
I saw the light, got behind Chris Reihanifam and tried to go from there...On that last one, I think I threw up a little bit.
Defensive coordinator Scott Orloff: on not repeating last year's 4-0 start followed by six-straight losses.
That’s something we’re going to have to remind them. This is a whole different group of kids, especially at linebackers. You know even when we won last year, it wasn’t pretty. We weren’t doing a lot of good things (last year) but we’re doing a lot of good things (this year).
Glendale head coach and offensive cordinator John Rome: on what they need to work on.
Fundamentally, we need to get back on the drawing board offensively. We seem to lack an identity.
Rome: on OCC's defense that allowed its season-low 132 passing yards - 112 lower than its average.
Very stout. They did a great job. They played hard the whole game.
Four individuals involved in the Orange Coast College’s athletics program will be inducted into Coast’s Hall of Fame Saturday.
Jim Carnett, Dan Quisenberry, Zoila Gomez and Al Irwin will first be introduced in an induction ceremony in the Peterson Gym’s foyer at 4 p.m.
The inductees will also be introduced at halftime of the OCC vs. Glendale College football game at the LeBard Stadium that starts at 6 p.m.
To read more about this, click here.
The OCC Sports Blog will also cover the football game against Glendale via Twitter. After the game, a game summary, quotes from players and coaches and pictures will be uploaded onto the blog.
Jim Carnett, Dan Quisenberry, Zoila Gomez and Al Irwin will first be introduced in an induction ceremony in the Peterson Gym’s foyer at 4 p.m.
The inductees will also be introduced at halftime of the OCC vs. Glendale College football game at the LeBard Stadium that starts at 6 p.m.
To read more about this, click here.
The OCC Sports Blog will also cover the football game against Glendale via Twitter. After the game, a game summary, quotes from players and coaches and pictures will be uploaded onto the blog.
With the onset of new budget cuts, I’ve noticed that many Orange Coast College sports teams are now filled with Division-I bounce backs.For non-sports savvy people, a bounce back is an athlete that used to play at the highest collegiate competition but now plays at a lower level.
I’m not trying to say the level of competition or the athletes currently at OCC is poor, because that’s not true at all.
Coast athletes play in the Orange Empire Conference, which is known for its prestigious athletics competition.
What I’m trying to say is that the caliber of athletes has now gone up and they are taking roster spots away from players that used put on the Pirate uniform or jersey.
During her time at OCC, Mitchell set the national 3,000 meter steeplechase record. Not bad for someone that wasn’t a top recruit out of high school.
Head women’s basketball coach said that last year’s all-OEC first team player Simone Ibbotson improved more than any other player to come out of his program.
There are also other athletes that came to Coast because they are recovering from an injury, didn’t get recruited in high school or just want to play their sport for a few more years before they retire as an athlete.
With the increase in the number of bounce backs, I wonder if there will be room for players like Mitchell, Ibbotson or any of the other athletes I described.
On top of that, with the budget cuts, roster sizes might have to be cut down too.
I think this will be the norm soon: Division-I caliber athletes taking over the community colleges and the coaches, assuming they want to win as many state champions as they can, will play them over the other athlete that may have the potential to be, well, Division-I athletes.
I foresee this future and I think it’s a shame. I’m sorry in advance that I won’t have a chance to write about you.
[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]
Size doesn’t have to matter — just ask Orange Coast College sophomore athletes Nikki Osuna (right) and Ray Holley.“I mean I’ve always wanted to be a little bit taller but it also makes me work that much harder to prove people wrong,” said Osuna, the shortest women’s volleyball player at 5 foot 3 inches. “When I tell people I play volleyball, they’re like, ‘But you’re tiny.’”
At 5 feet 9, Holley also knows all about people commenting on his size. Even his own teammates call him Smalley.
“To me, being a little bit shorter, that hasn’t bothered me,” Holley said. “I know it makes me want to prove people wrong because they don’t expect me to hit hard.”
Just ask Santa Monica College how hard Holley hits.
Holley earned Southern Conference Player of the Week for rushing 228 yards with three touchdowns in 28 carries in the Sept. 5 season opener in just three quarters.
He also can bench press 225 pounds, 20 times. I don’t think many of can say we can bench 225 once.
“The only problem (of being shorter) is that when he walks into a room he’s not a really big, imposing figure until he takes his shirt off and you’re like, ‘Wow, he’s put together,” said head football coach Mike Taylor.
Osuna’s case is a bit different. In addition to being the shortest on the team, she also had to deal with a knee injury that red shirted her last season and missed the state championship.
But now she’s back in full strength. In her first two games this season, she’s led the lady Pirates to two victories by leading the team with 15 digs in each game.
“Me red shirting last year made me work that much harder in the offseason to prove I that I wanted to be on the court this season,” Osuna said.
Being taller may have some advantages but there are other important factors in sports, like practicing harder, spending extra time watching film and playing smarter.
“They’re usually your hardest workers,” head women’s volleyball coach Chuck Cutenese said of shorter players. “They’re always having to make up for their lack of height.”
You also can’t coach the desire to be a better player. You can’t coach the never-say-quit attitude.
And you certainly can’t coach how to defeat the stereotypes and adversity shorter athletes have to go through.
“(Players) respect him for what he is,” Taylor said of Holley (left). “He’s a good teammate, he hustles in practice (and) he hustles like a man that’s possessed in the game.”Cutenese added one of the best qualities about Osuna is her aggressiveness, competitive personality and being a verbal leader n all things that cannot be coached.
“I feel like my voice is bigger than my body,” Osuna said.
Well, we hear you guys loud and clear when you play.
[Photo of Osuna by Tony Lee, photo of Holley courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]
