Miscues Ruin Debut of Workman; OCC Loses

Orange Coast College unveiled a new head coach Saturday night, but for the Pirates, the on-field look remained disturbingly the same.

The crowd of 1,200 at LeBard Stadium in Costa Mesa saw Orange Coast’s kicker fan an extra-point attempt, its punter produce a six-yard punt and the Pirates accumulate 136 yards in penalties.

When Orange Coast hired Bill Workman as its head coach, it got a proven winner. In 13 years at Edison High School, Workman complied a record of 109-33-5.

But OCC fans didn’t exactly see a Workman-like performance from the Pirates.

Golden West (2-0) wasn’t flawless, either. But the Rustlers committed fewer serious errors and managed to secure a 14-6 nonconference victory.

“It looked like a new coaching staff out there with 70 freshmen,” Workman said. “Our defense was our own worst enemy. We had a lot of undisciplined penalties and it cost us dearly.”

Orange Coast (0-1) managed to cover plenty of ground, compiling more total yardage than Golden West, 259 yards to 175. It was a team going everywhere--except to the end zone.

Quarterback Eric Lawton, who completed 8 of 17 passes for 119 yards, led the Rustlers with his running, scoring both of his team’s touchdowns. He started the scoring with a 14-yard run in the first quarter. His nine-yard run in the fourth quarter put Golden West ahead, 14-0.

Jon Nowotny, who played for Workman at Edison, averted a shutout with a 22-yard pass to Ollie Perkins with 1:31 remaining. Nowotny was 14 of 19 for 164 yards.

It looked hopeful for Orange Coast when it tried an onside kick and recovered a Golden West fumble with 1:21 left. But four plays later, Nowotny was intercepted by Rene Oliver.

It wasn’t exactly a surprise finish with the way things were going for Orange Coast.

“I guess it’s common opening game for a junior college team,” Workman said of the penalties. “A team who has a new head coach, six of the nine coaches are new, 70 of the 85 players are freshman . . . I hoped it wouldn’t happen, but it did.”