Orange County Community College Football : OCC Holds Off Saddleback, 42-38

Orange Coast College’s three-prong attack of running back Bart Recktenwald, quarterback Keith Jarrett and wide receiver Junior Tagaloa combined for six touchdowns as Orange Coast College defeated Saddleback, 42-38, Saturday in a Mission Conference football game in front of 3,750 at Saddleback.

Recktenwald, who had 373 yards in total offense, scored on a 23-yard run in the middle of the fourth quarter to give OCC the lead, 42-38. He was the leading rusher in the game with 185 in 20 carries.

OCC had 479 yards in total offense. Jarrett completed 15 of 26 passes for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns, 3 to Tagaloa and 1 to Recktenwald.

Tagaloa caught 7 passes for 176 yards to set a single-game yardage record for OCC (2-0, 3-0).

“We have a great running back, quarterback and a wide receiver,” said OCC Coach Bill Workman. “That’s the difference between this year’s team and last year’s.”

OCC opened a 35-24 lead early in the third quarter when Jarrett completed a 15-yard scoring pass to Tagaloa.

But Saddleback (1-1, 1-2) came back on pair of touchdown runs by Aly Diaz, who had 82 yards in 16 carries. The second, a one-yard run, gave Saddleback a 38-35 lead early in the fourth quarter before the Recktenwald scoring run.

OCC took a 28-24 lead when Jarrett completed a 23-yard pass for a touchdown to Recktenwald late in the second quarter. It was one of three touchdown passes Jarrett threw in the first half.

His second was a 72-yard pass play to Tagaloa, who ran a down-and-out pattern and was covered but then turned upfield and was wide open. The score gave OCC a 14-14 tie.

Jarrett also connected with Tagaloa for a 42-yard pass for a touchdown to tie the score at 7-7 in the first quarter.

Saddleback had taken a 7-0 lead on a 13-yard pass from Howard Gasser to Kelly Ryan two minutes into the game. The score was set up by an interception and 43-yard return by Ennis Finley.

OCC’s 42 points were the most Saddleback has ever given up.

In other action:

Riverside 34, Rancho Santiago 21--Sophomore quarterback Nick Schichtle rushed 11 times for 86 yards and a touchdown and completed 10 of 18 passes for 156 yards at Santa Ana Stadium.

Riverside (2-0, 2-1) took a 14-0 second-quarter lead that was never seriously threatened. William Smith, who gained 68 yards in 12 carries, bolstered that lead with touchdown runs of 21 and 3 yard.

Rick Burns completed 18 of 30 passes for 188 yards to lead Rancho Santiago (0-2, 1-2)