Rancho Santiago Shows Strength in Victory Over Orange Coast

Rancho Santiago has something most football coaches would kill for this late in the season--depth.

The Dons used it in a 51-27 victory over Orange Coast in a Mission Conference Central Division game Saturday at Santa Ana Stadium.

Rancho Santiago rotated seven offensive linemen to keep them fresh. That helped sophomore tailback Jermaine Gray gain a career-high 240 yards in 36 carries. He also scored one touchdown.

Gray and the offensive line were at their best on Rancho Santiago’s first possession of the second half. The Dons needed only four plays--all Gray carries--to move 57 yards for a touchdown and a 31-17 lead with 11 minutes 31 seconds left in the quarter.

Coach Dave Ogas said game action has allowed the offensive line, led by sophomore tackle Scott Fergus (6 feet 9, 295 pounds), to improve each week.

“They’re big, physical guys,” Ogas said. “They should be mashing guys and they are.”

Rancho Santiago, which has won four in a row, got another solid performance from quarterback Matt Mitchell, who took over the offense after starter Mark Fausto injured his knee three weeks ago. Fausto played some Saturday but fumbled while trying to scramble and the Pirates’ Jeremy McGlasson picked up the ball and went three yards for a touchdown to put Orange Coast ahead early in the second quarter, 10-7.

Mitchell returned and rallied the Dons (5-1, 2-0 in conference). He put his team ahead for good with a 44-yard scoring pass to Jon Daniels with 8:11 left in the second quarter. He also had a two-yard scoring pass to Jason Parrott to give the Dons a 21-10 lead with 1:03 left in the half.

The Pirates moved quickly for a score on a seven-yard pass from Jason Frank to Marquis Battle with 28 seconds left to make it 21-17.

But the Dons got a field goal before the half was over. Gray had a run of 17 yards and Mitchell had completions of 12 and 45 yards before Jerry Arguello kicked a 24-yard field goal for a 24-17 lead. Mitchell finished 14 of 25 for 212 yards and three touchdowns.

Orange Coast also moved the ball well on the ground as Chet Walker finished with 145 yards in 16 carries and William League had 100 yards in 14 tries. Orange Coast (1-6, 0-4) was done in by four consecutive turnovers in the fourth quarter.