ORANGE COAST COLLEGE

1997 RECORD: 2-8 overall, 1-5 in the division

COACH: Bill Workman (60-63 at the college)

RETURNING STARTERS: 2 on offense, 6 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Chris Brewer, WR, 5-10, 165; Chris Clayton, LB, 5-11, 200; Doug McDaniel, LB, 5-11, 215; Ed Lalonde, DB, 6-0, 190; Aaron Ligons, DB, 5-8, 175; David Meleney, RB, 5-11, 200; Ivan Mercer, WR, 6-7, 230; Marcus Mirahmadi, LB, 6-1, 230; John Romm, DE, 6-3, 240.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Kent Anderson, DL, 6-2, 280; Mike Buckingham, TE, 6-4, 235; David Castleton, WR, 6-1, 200; Jared Flint, QB, 6-5, 200; Derek Fox, DL, 6-2, 280; Ray Ohrel, RB, 5-11, 210; Kevin Torres, RB, 5-7. 185.

OUTLOOK

Six returners and five other experienced players on defense is great news for Workman who joked that last year out of desperation they used guys they found at bus stops but were able to cut such players this season. The defense has given up 37 points and 405 yards a game over the last two seasons. Clayton, from Trabuco Hills High, had a team-leading 86 tackles and McDaniel (Apple Valley) added 37. Estancia’s Romm (35 tackles) moved from linebacker to defensive end. Anderson is a transfer from Nevada Las Vegas and Fox (Newport Harbor High) was headed to Idaho State but decided to stay home. Mercer, a transfer from Washington State, is being recruited hard by Ohio State, Texas and Texas A&M.; He had 32 catches for 442 yards but an ankle injury limited his playing time in the second half of last season. The receivers got a boost when Buckingham (Edison) transferred from Nevada and Castleton (Mater Dei) returned from Brigham Young. Flint (Irvine) was at Indiana but decided to skip another winter in the Midwest. He also will probably play on the baseball team as an infielder. The offensive line lost six sophomores who were academically ineligible.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 12 vs. Fullerton; 19 Orange Coast at Saddleback; 26 vs. Santa Ana.

Oct. 3 vs. Palomar at San Marcos High; 10 vs. Riverside; 24 at Cerritos; 31 vs. Pasadena.

Nov. 7 at Long Beach; 14 at Mt. San Antonio; 21 vs. El Camino.