OCC Football: Smack Bowl

Steve Virgen

CERRITOS - As if the Orange Coast College football team needed more

reason to prove that the Pirates are for real.

Tonight’s Strawberry Bowl of OCC at Cerritos College might not have

ever come about, according to Falcons Coach Frank Mazzotta.

If you are to read between the lines, one would be inclined to believe

the only reason the Pirates are in a bowl of any sort is because of the

graciousness of the Cerritos Falcons, who managed to win their last game

of the regular season to qualify for a bowl game.

Simply put, no Cerritos, no Strawberry Bowl.

“We lost our sponsor for the bowl game,” Cerritos Coach Frank Mazzotta

said. “We had to do some fund raising and we had to win our last game

against Riverside. We did. If we didn’t have a bowl game you never know

who would be left out.”And if that’s not enough fuel for the Bucs,

Wednesday’s Strawberry Bowl team banquet at Cerritos could also ignite

OCC. The assembly of Pirates and Falcons heated an already fiery matchup.

Coast running back James Dawkins confirmed a stinging salvo of words

exchanged between the teams in the parking lot as the players were

departing.

Dawkins said he could not repeat the words because it would not be

appropriate for print. But the confrontation will only bring more

excitement to the game, he said.

The matchup already had some history because Cerritos (7-3), defeated

the Pirates last year, 40-17.

The Bucs are ready to make the statement they have been declaring

since their upset win over Mt. San Antonio.

“We’re for real,” said OCC quarterback Nick Higgs whose stable play

and leadership has been the key for the Pirates division championship and

bowl berth. “No defense has done anything that can stop us. Anytime that

something has gone wrong it’s been because of our own selves. To be 0-3

and bounce back and beat Mt. SAC, Palomar and Pasadena, we’re showing

that we’re for real.”

Once upon a time, a division title and a bowl berth were not even

thought of, much less desired, after Sept. 23. That was when the Bucs

were shut out 30-0 at home against El Camino for OCC’s third loss of the

season. The Pirates scored just one touchdown in the three losses.

“Early in the season seems like two years ago,” OCC Coach Mike Taylor

said Thursday.

After winning six of its last seven games, including upset victories

over Mt. SAC, Pasadena and Palomar, the Pirates have different statements

to make. They want to prove that they are for real.

The Falcons, ranked No. 18 in the nation with three losses to Mt. SAC,

Pasadena and El Camino, are led by quarterback Doug Baughman, who earned

All-Mission Conference Northern Division honors as he threw for 2,007

yards and 17 touchdowns completing 144 of his 265 attempts.

Baughman played at Bolsa Grande High where he amassed 7,072 yards in

three years good for No. 2 in Orange County history behind Todd

Marinovich who played for four years.

The Falcons offense also features balance in a running game with

all-conference back Manuel Murrillo who has rushed for 740 yards and 10

touchdowns this season.

The Cerritos defense also has all-conference selections and the

Defensive Player of the Year, Demetrin Veal, a 6-foot-3 285-pound

defensive end.

Similar to OCC’s linebacker trio of Martin Janzon, Justin Blackard and

Dustin Davis, the Falcons have a solid set of defenders. Philip Perry and

John Lopez are first-team all-conference selections who will try to stuff

OCC’s Dawkins and Jared Kemp.

Cerritos defensive backs also earned all-conference laurels in Rashad

Long and Hendrick Robertson.

The matchups on the field make the Strawberry Bowl perhaps the most

intriguing of the junior college bowl games today.

Mazzotta noted that OCC did earn its chance for a bowl game.

“They beat some teams that we had trouble with, especially Mt. SAC,”

he said. “They are an outstanding team that started out tough. We match

up well in a lot of areas. It’s really going to be a good matchup,”A win

for the Pirates would not only solidify their proof as not overachieving,

but a victory would hopefully bring a winning trend to Orange Coast,

Taylor said.

“I hope this parlays into even a better team next year,” he said.

“We’re glad we’re playing a good team. These guys will play their hearts

out and that’s all that matters.”