Recktenwald Serves Orange Coast’s Purpose

Bart Recktenwald is an all-purpose kind of guy.

The Orange Coast College sophomore isn’t content to do one thing well. He returns kicks and punts, starts at running back and also catches passes.

In Saturday’s 28-26 victory over Golden West, Recktenwald combined his talents for 386 all-purpose yards, which is an OCC and Orange County community college record.

He had 209 yards in 6 kickoff returns, including returns of 63 and 72 yards to set up a pair of Pirate scores. He had 9 receptions for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he rushed for 93 yards in 19 attempts. He also returned a punt for 13 yards.

A once-in-a-season kind of night, right?

“It really doesn’t come as a surprise to me or any member of the coaching staff,” said OCC Coach Bill Workman of Recktenwald’s accomplishment. “He didn’t do anything we didn’t expect him to do. That’s the kind of player he is.”

Last season, Recktenwald was one of OCC’s best weapons, though he never played a down on offense. He returned punts and kickoffs and was a defensive back.

Recktenwald still finished eighth in all-purpose yardage, averaging 25.6 yards per kickoff return and 20.1 yards per punt return. He was selected to the All-Mission Conference first team and was second-team all-state.

“I like doing kickoff and punt returns,” Recktenwald said. “It’s fun. You always want to get a big run. We had great blocking on the kickoffs and I just happened to be going the right way. With punts, there is always someone right in your face, so you have to dodge the first guy and go.

“I guess you have to be kind of a maniac at times out there.”

Recktenwald’s most impressive game before last Saturday’s came against San Diego Southwestern last season. He had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and an 85-yard punt return for a score, but OCC lost, 34-27.

He also returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in OCC’s 22-10 victory over Grossmont last season.

But that wasn’t enough for Recktenwald, who graduated from La Quinta High School, where he rushed for 1,100 yards and scored 24 touchdowns in 1985.

Last spring, Recktenwald decided he missed playing offense and asked Workman if he could return to tailback.

There also was some talk of him playing both ways, and he still might when OCC uses five defensive backs.

“It was my decision to play defense last season,” Recktenwald said. “The way I looked a it, it would be best for me in the long run if I’m to get a scholarship. Plus, I really like playing defense.

“But I missed having the ball all the time. Now I’ll do anything for the ball. I want it all the time.”

It didn’t take much to persuade Workman to let Recktenwald play offense.

“It seemed a shame to have him playing just defense,” Workman said. “Bart is too dangerous to get the ball only five, six or seven times a game. This season, he should get it at least 25 to 30 times a game.”

The fact that Recktenwald played the entire game against Golden West also represents something different for him.

When OCC opened last season with a 14-6 loss to Golden West, Recktenwald was ejected from the game late in the third quarter for arguing with an official.

“I guess I have a temper at times,” he said. “Last year, it was my first college game, and I was really excited. I know I have to keep it (his temper) under control now, but you can’t go out there with a pale face, either. Football is a violent game.”

Said Workman: “He had some reasons to come up kicking and screaming (against Golden West this season) and he didn’t. He’s improved a ton, and a lot of it has to do with maturity.”