Orange Coast College

Football: Pirates earn 300th win by topping L.A. Southwest

Saturday, September 13, 2008

COSTA MESA -- Sixty years and 597 games later, the Orange Coast College football team cracked the "Big 3-0-0" on Saturday night at LeBard Stadium with a 31-7 nonconference win over visiting L.A. Southwest College.

The win puts the Pirates' overall record at 300-285-12. More importantly, OCC improves to 2-0 and heads into the showdown with rival Golden West with a modest two-game win streak.

After seeing last the Cougars' stats against El Camino in Week 1, the Pirates licked their collective chops and aggressively charged through a LASW offensive line that allowed 13 sacks to the Warriors.

OCC made numerous trips into the Cougar backfield and held the guests to minus-4 yards rushing for the game, thanks in large part to 10 sacks inflicted on the LASW quarterbacks.

While the defense was holding the Cougars to just 72 yards of total offense, OCC's offense used a balanced effort for 303 total yards (141 rushing, 162 passing).

Sophomore quarterback Taylor Hughes (pictured left) accounted for all 162 passing yards on 12-of-21 passing with one touchdown, while eight different Pirate receivers found the stat sheet, led by Keali'i Doll's 26-yard TD reception, Cameron Hall's three catches (30 yards) and Ray Holley's 58 receiving yards.

Holley combined for 104 yards of offense (46 rushing, 58 receiving), while teammate Kevin Ah-Hi led the ground game with 22 carries on 70 yards and two touchdowns.

OCC was quiet for most of the first half before turning a short field into a scoring opportunity.

After a botched punt by LA Southwest, Hughes quickly found Doll on a 26-yard TD strike, putting OCC ahead 7-0 with 4:09 left in the first quarter.

That score would be the first of four straight touchdowns converted by the Pirates, two coming off of double-digit scoring drives.

Following a LASW punt, OCC capped off a 13-play, 78-yard drive with a 28-yard touchdown run by Ah-Hi, putting the Pirates up 14-0 and the blowout was on.

While the big plays were eliminated by both teams, the Cougars' defense had few answers for the OCC ground game. Ah-Hi, Holley and Hughes continued to make first downs and a 10-play, 50-yard drive was highlighted by a 10-yard TD run by Hughes for a 21-0 lead.

OCC's first win came in 1948 against Riverside, 14-6. So how different WAS life in 1948?
Average yearly income	$2,950
Gallon of gas	16 cents
Cost of a new car	$1,250
Movie ticket	60 cents
Loaf of bread	14 cents

Sophomore Benjamin Soza picked off a Cougar pass on their next possession, giving OCC great field position once again.

Five plays later, Ah-Hi again found the end zone when he plowed in from three yards out, giving Coast a 28-0 lead at the half.

The Pirates cruised from there and capped off their scoring with a 33-yard field goal from freshman Ryan Casano.

L.A. Southwest ended its scoring drought of the season with 8:55 left in the game on a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Torrey Harnkess to receiver Esau Bucknight.