JC Football: OCC loses lead at Saddleback

MISSION VIEJO – Visiting Orange Coast College took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter against Saddleback, the top-ranked team in the state, but Gauchos rallied for a 28-21 victory in a Southern Conference football game Saturday night.

The win helps Saddleback (9-1, 4-1 in conference) share the conference title with Fullerton.

OCC sophomore Kody Whitaker completed 22 of 43 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown. He finishes his career with 4,079 passing yards, breaking the school-career record held previously by Jared Flint (4,003 yards in 1998-99). Whitaker’s 32 career touchdown passes are also a school record.

Derrick Hunt, who had 145 yards on 31 rushing attempts, had a one-yard touchdown run to pull the Pirates (3-7, 1-4), even at 7-7 with 5:03 left in the first quarter. Hunt also had 38 yards on four receptions.

Whitaker then hit Joey Cox for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 14:42 left before halftime, but Saddleback tied it just more than 10 minutes later.

The Gauchos, for whom Edward Vander had 183 yards rushing on 26 attempts, scored on a 69-yard pass from Nick Robinson to Deondre Moore 16 seconds into the second half to take the lead for good.

OCC’s James Rutledge had six receptions for 104 yards, while Cox had six catches for 51 yards.

Saddleback had a 245-241 advantage in total offense, and the Gauchos had two of the game’s three turnovers.

Sophomore safety Sherrod Page led the Pirates with 10 tackles.

— From staff reports