Orange Coast College

Football: Pirates can't hold off Pasadena

Saturday, September 15, 2007

COSTA MESA - While Pasadena City College quarterback David Pittman set a new PCC school record for completed passes, it was his legs that proved to be the difference late.

The sophomore QB scampered into the end zone on a 5-yard touchdown run with 6:25 left to provide the Lancers a 27-25 win over Orange Coast on Saturday at LeBard Stadium.

Pittman finished with a school-best 33 completions on 47 attempts for 312 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lancers (3-0).

The Pirates (2-1) dominated the field position the entire night thanks to some well-placed punts by David Harrington (seven punts inside the 20), but it was an unsuccessful onside kick that gave Pasadena the field position it would need.

Leading 17-13 midway through the third quarter, OCC tried to catch the Lancers by surprise with the onside attempt, but the ball landed in the hands of a PCC blocker, giving the guests their first decent field position of the game.

The Lancers took advantage and regained the lead when Pittman hit Gabe Tuata with a 34-yard touchdown pass and following a missed 2-point attempt, they led 19-17.

OCC would respond. With 7:50 left in the game, quarterback Sean Hakes threw a pass that was intended for Wes Taylor, but the ball shot straight up in the air and into the hands of teammate Cameron Hall in the back of the end zone, giving the Pirates a 25-19 lead following a 2-point pass from Hakes to Nathan Barnett.

But that lead was short-lived as the Lancers took their next possession 60 yards on just five plays, with Pittman capping off the drive with the game-winning TD run.

The high-octane Lancers totalled 416 yards of total offense and picked up the win, despite another crippling night of penalties. Coming into the game with an 18.5-penalty average, PCC racked up 19 infractions for 159 yards.

OCC was led offensively by Kevin Ah-Hi on the ground (21 carries, 55 yards), Hakes in the air (14-of-27, 137 yards, two touchdowns) and Hall (four receptions, 20 yards), Craig Villalpando (3-36) and Barnett (2-35).

OCC will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Eddie West Field to take on Santa Ana. Game time is set for 6 p.m.