Community College Football : Orange Coast Blanks Southwestern

Orange Coast College finally had a chance to rest its starters Saturday during a 24-0 victory over Southwestern in a Mission Conference football game in front of 300 at OCC.

Orange Coast’s Bart Recktenwald played only in the first half and rushed for 78 yards in 13 carries. That broke his streak of five consecutive games with 100 or more yards rushing.

Recktenwald has rushed for 987 yards this season. He was replaced in the second half by freshman Tyler Riddell, who had 63 yards in 11 carries.

“It was nice to get a chance to play some people,” OCC Coach Bill Workman said. “We haven’t had too many games like this.”

Quarterback Keith Jarrett played a little more than three quarters and completed 8 of 18 passes for 129 yards.

Jarrett threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as OCC opened a 21-0 lead in the first half.

Jarrett completed a 32-yard pass for a touchdown to Ho Truong to give OCC its 21-0 lead with 3:14 left in the half.

Jarrett’s seven-yard touchdown run around end after faking a handoff to Recktenwald gave OCC a 14-0 lead with 7:45 left in the first half.

OCC had taken a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game when Jarrett completed a 26-yard pass for a touchdown to Chris Warner.

Kevin McKelvie’s 38-yard field goal in the second half ended the scoring.

Junior Tagaloa, who was leading the conference in receptions with 42 coming into the game, played a little more than three quarters and had one catch.

OCC (6-1 overall, 5-1 in conference play) remains in a first-place tie with Saddleback, which defeated San Diego City, 51-6, Saturday. OCC plays at San Diego City next Saturday; Saddleback is at Palomar.

It was the first shutout for OCC since 1983 and the first time Southwestern (3-4, 2-4) has been shut out since 1985. Southwestern has lost four consecutive games.

In other Mission Conference games:

Saddleback 51, San Diego City 6--Howard Gasser completed 6 of 11 passes for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Gauchos (5-2, 5-1) at Saddleback. Kelly Ryan caught 4 of those passes for 124 yards and both touchdowns.

It was the fifth straight game Gasser has played without throwing an interception. He also ran for a touchdown.

Linebacker Tom Schooler returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown to break open the game. San Diego City was trying a 28-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in the first half, but holder Eddy Hooper couldn’t handle a bad snap. He ran and was hit, and the ball flew loose to Schooler.

Palomar 17, Rancho Santiago 13--Rick Burns threw a 39-yard pass for a touchdown to Ed Nasser in the first quarter and Mike Miscione scored on a 18-yard run for Rancho Santiago, but Palomar still won at Santa Ana Stadium. Rancho Santiago is 3-4, 2-4, and Palomar is 4-2-1, 3-2-1.