TODAY’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Orange Coast Defensive Lineman Steps Into Spotlight

Tackle Kelly Jackson contributed greatly to Orange Coast College’s defensive effort last season.

He started eight of 11 games and twice was named the defensive player of the game.

But no matter how well he and his linemates did, most of the attention and credit for the unit’s success went to standout linebackers Ernie Goddard, Kevin Roberts, John Kelly and Chris Deuchar.

Goddard and Roberts were all-conference selections.

This season, with those linebackers gone, Jackson realized the opportunity, with teammates Sedric Shorter and Vince Legaspi, to make the line the key part of the unit.

“This year I felt it is time for the D-line to take over,” Jackson said. “We have to set the tone, then everybody can follow our example.”

OCC, which plays host to San Diego City at 1:30 p.m. today in a Mission Conference game, leads the conference, allowing only 184 yards per game.

Jackson is second on the team in tackles with 21 in the first three games. Shorter leads with 26 and Legaspi is fourth with 18. Jackson, who is 6 feet 1 and 255 pounds, also has two sacks, has forced a fumble and recovered two others.

The numbers are impressive, especially considering the starting unit has yet to play a full game because of lopsided scores.

“In the game, I tend to get a little violent,” said Jackson, 20. “But that is just the nature of football and trying to get to the quarterback. That is what it’s all about.”

Jackson initially was reluctant to come to OCC after graduating from Saddleback High School. He had been recruited by San Jose State. But just as Jackson started to have Division I dreams, Claude Gilbert was fired as San Jose State coach.

The new staff, headed by Coach Terry Shea, didn’t pursue Jackson, and his only option was playing at the community college level.

“I was a little depressed at first,” Jackson said. “I really didn’t know if I wanted to play football any more after that, but I thought about it and decided that I had to play to prove that I could move on to the next level.”

In today’s Mission Conference games:

Long Beach (0-4, 0-2) vs. Rancho Santiago (1-2, 0-2) at Santa Ana Stadium, 7 p.m.--Rancho Santiago hopes to break a two-game losing streak. The Dons’ Rich Fanti is second in the conference with nine touchdown passes. Five have gone to Trent Julian. Long Beach has scored only 24 points in its four losses.

Mt. San Antonio (3-1, 1-1) at Fullerton (2-1, 1-1), 7 p.m.--Both teams are coming off wild losses, Fullerton to Pasadena, 48-38, and Mt. San Antonio to Palomar, 44-38. Fullerton’s 260 yards-per-game rushing is best in the conference. The teams are almost identical in total offense. Fullerton is averaging 395 yards; Mt. San Antonio 394.

Saddleback (2-1, 1-1) vs. Grossmont (1-1-1, 1-1) at Grossmont High School, 1:30 p.m.--Saddleback is playing its second of four consecutive road games. Saddleback had two good defensive games before giving up 486 yards and 43 points in the loss to Southwestern last Saturday. Saddleback’s 457 yards in total offense per game is second to Palomar (508).

San Diego City (0-4, 0-2) at Orange Coast (3-0, 2-0), 1:30 p.m.--Orange Coast has moved from 16th to 10th in the current J.C. Grid-Wire national rankings. OCC has outscored the opposition, 109-27, and quarterback Donnie Smith has completed 65% (30 of 46) of his passes and has six touchdowns.

Southwestern (3-1, 1-1) vs. Golden West (3-0, 2-0) at OCC, 7 p.m.--Golden West is allowing 9.3 points per game, but the defense will be tested by Southwestern, which is averaging 36 points. Golden West is averaging 233 yards and 24 points and is ranked 10th in Southern California.

Golden West and Orange Coast are the only two undefeated teams in Orange County.