TONIGHT’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Mather’s Improved Passing Gives OCC Balance

When teams played Orange Coast last season, the defensive plan was simple. Put seven or eight players on the line of scrimmage and stop the option run by freshman quarterback Todd Mather.

The scheme wasn’t always effective--OCC went 7-4 and reached a bowl game--but the implication was clear. Defenses were more willing to let Mather beat them throwing than rushing. He was second on the team in rushing with 391 yards.

“It didn’t take teams long to figure out I couldn’t throw very well,” said Mather, 19. “I just didn’t have a technique when I got here.”

But on the advice of OCC Coach Bill Workman, Mather spent his summer working with a throwing coach and has improved his skills greatly.

To emphasize that point, consider that Mather needs 38 yards passing tonight in OCC’s fifth game to surpass his total last season.

Orange Coast travels to Santa Ana Stadium to play Rancho Santiago in a 7 p.m. game that is the Mission Conference Central Division opener for both teams.

Mather is 41 for 71 for 648 yards with four interceptions and three touchdowns this season. He completed 53 passes for 685 yards last year with four touchdowns and six interceptions.

“This season, we have more balance on the offense,” Mather said. “Teams have to stay back and respect us more.”

Mather came to Orange Coast after a standout high school career at Burroughs High School in Ridgecrest, about 180 miles northeast of Costa Mesa.

He heard about Orange Coast from Randy Marsh, a former Burroughs player who played at Orange Coast in 1990-91.

But despite moving to Costa Mesa, Mather is hardly away from his family.

He is the third youngest of nine brothers and sisters and about 50 family and friends make the trip for every OCC game. The group has even rented buses.

Todd’s younger brother Tom is a freshman defensive back on the team and the two live in an apartment near the college.

“It’s really great to have all that support,” Todd Mather said. “When we are coming down the ramp into the stadium, I can here them all cheering for me and it’s a really good feeling.”

Tonight’s 7 p.m. Mission Conference Central Division games:

Golden West (2-2) vs. Fullerton (2-2), CS Fullerton--Both teams have lost to Long Beach and Cerritos, and beaten El Camino. Golden West quarterback Steve Walker was 18 of 27 for 185 yards and two touchdowns in the 38-23 loss to Cerritos last Saturday.

Orange Coast (2-2) vs. Rancho Santiago (1-2-1), Santa Ana Stadium--Orange Coast has the top defense in the conference, allowing 262 yards per game, including 66 against the run. Rancho Santiago counters with the best rushing offense in the conference, averaging 229 yards. The Dons’ Donnie Bladow is averaging nearly seven yards per carry and has 451 yards.

Riverside (0-4) at Saddleback (2-2)--Saddleback hopes to recover from a 40-12 drubbing by Mt. San Antonio last Saturday.