Community College Football : Workman Not Giving Up on Struggling Orange Coast

Orange Coast College isn’t off to the best of starts.

First-year Coach Bill Workman isn’t ready to concede the season even though the Pirates (0-1 in the Mission Conference, 0-2 overall) are struggling with a new system and coaches. Last season, the Pirates ran the veer offense under Coach Dick Tucker, who retired after 23 seasons.

Workman--whose team plays host to conference favorite Saddleback (1-0, 2-0) tonight at 7:30 in LeBard Stadium--changed the offense to the I formation.

“We’re hanging in there,” Workman said about his team, which starts 15 freshmen. “Both losses have been really frustrating. We could be 2-0 as easy as we’re 0-2. . . . The most encouraging thing I’ve seen is our enthusiasm, though. I’m happy about that.

“We’re getting better, it will just take time.”

In the opening-game, 14-6 loss to Golden West, Orange Coast was penalized 13 times for 136 yards. Still, the Pirates had a chance to win when they recovered an onside kick in the game’s final minute. But quarterback John Nowotny’s pass was intercepted.

Orange Coast held the Rustlers to 12 first downs and 175 total yards; the Pirates had 19 first downs and 259 yards.

Seven of the eight times the Pirates had the ball inside the Golden West 30, they failed to score.

Last Saturday, Orange Coast lost to Rancho Santiago, 28-27, in the conference opener. The Pirates led, 21-7, late in the third quarter only to lose in the final minute on a one-yard run by Don quarterback John Cook.

Saddleback has won 13 consecutive games and is ranked first in the Southern California sports information directors’ poll.

“You can go up and down the state and not find a better community college football team,” Workman said.

Pat Hegarty, who is the quarterback of Saddleback’s no-huddle offense, has completed 40 of 64 passes for 530 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wide receiver Bret Mersola has 20 receptions for 261 yards and a touchdown.

In other Mission Conference action:

Rancho Santiago (1-0, 2-0) vs. Riverside (1-0, 2-0) at Riverside, 7:30 p.m--The Dons have survived two close games, beating Fullerton, 26-23, and Orange Coast, 28-27. Riverside has blanked Mt. San Jacinto, 45-0, and Citrus, 21-0. Riverside leads the conference in passing defense, giving up only 143 yards in two games. Rancho Santiago sophomore quarterback John Cook has completed 41 of 70 passes for 440 yards and 2 touchdowns. Two of his passes have been intercepted. Riverside relies on a strong ground game led by Mike Moore, the conference’s leading rusher, with 236 yards in 38 carries. Tommy Thomas (97 yards in 12 carries) is seventh in the conference in rushing. The Dons have held opponents to 95 yards rushing a game.

In nonconference games:

Fullerton (0-2) vs. Bakersfield (0-2) at Bakersfield Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.--Hal Sherbeck (199-55-6) will try a third time this season for his 200th victory. The Hornets have lost to Rancho Santiago, 26-23, and Taft, 51-27. The Hornets had trouble stopping Taft runners: Ken Thomas ran for 155 yards in 10 carries, Robbie Robinson 112 in 16 and Mike Moore 105 in 12. The Renegades have sophomore tailback Doug Sanders, who rushed for 155 yards in 17 carries against Golden West Sept. 8.