Morris Keys Golden West Victory Over OCC

Wesley Morris made the offensive and defensive plays of the game to help Golden West College to a 7-6 victory over Orange Coast in a Mission Conference Central Division game Saturday at OCC.

Morris, a wide receiver, caught an eight-yard touchdown pass on fourth down from quarterback Brian Schneider with 7 minutes 28 seconds left to play. Mark Wersching kicked the extra point to put Golden West ahead, 7-6.

The Rustlers (1-3-1, 1-0 in the division) had first down at the eight, but Schneider threw three consecutive incomplete passes, although one was dropped. Morris was open in the right corner of the end zone and went low to pick the ball off the ground.

“There was no question to go for it (on fourth down),” Golden West Coach Ray Shackleford said. “We’d already missed two fairly short field-goal attempts (29 and 38 yards) and I wasn’t sure if we could get down there again.”

Morris had two key plays earlier in the drive.

He caught a screen pass and went 32 yards to give Golden West a first down at the Orange Coast 30.

He had to take a defensive posture on another vital play. Schneider had overthrown Morris and Orange Coast’s John Harcar appeared ready for an easy interception. But Morris rushed in and knocked the ball loose.

“I was thinking I had to be a defensive back and take the ball away,” Morris said. “The team had worked too hard and we didn’t want to lose the game.”

After the touchdown, Orange Coast advanced to its 35 before Jeff Clayton was tackled for a five-yard loss on a screen pass. On third and 13, Orange Coast quarterback Matt Sauk was sacked by Mike Haxton for an eight-yard loss.

Sauk was forced up in the pocket by the strong outside rush of Lance Lee. Orange Coast punted and Golden West, behind sophomore tailback Mark Crowley, ran out the clock.

Crowley carried seven times in the final drive for 28 yards. Golden West got its final first down and was able to run out the clock after an unsportsmanlike penalty on third down.

Crowley finished with a career-high 147 yards in 24 carries. His previous best was 89 yards last week against El Camino.

Penalties hindered Orange Coast the entire game. The Pirates were called 17 times for 144 yards.

The Pirates (0-4, 0-1) got a 41-field goal from Matt Logan in the first quarter and he added one from 43 yards in the second quarter.

Clayton had 110 yards rushing for OCC.