Saturday’s game at LeBard Stadium between Orange Coast and El Camino was billed as a battle of the top two defenses in the Mission Conference, but second-ranked El Camino made it clear which team also has a top-ranked offense.
Quarterback Boo Jackson threw for 192 yards and four touchdowns and El Camino put up 21 points and had three interceptions in the third quarter to defeat the host Pirates handily, 42-13.
“Any time you play El Camino it is a difficult task,” OCC coach Mike Taylor said. “We don’t match up as well with them as we do other teams. We had some misfortunes in the second half, and it was a snowball effect.”
The Pirates’ Chris Debowski threw three interceptions during a span of five pass attempts that mitigated a productive first half.
“We read the quarterback’s eyes and it created some real important turnovers for us,” El Camino coach John Featherstone said.
El Camino took a 14-6 halftime lead thanks to a touchdown reception and punt return by Jonathan Price. The Pirates (3-5, 1-2), who were without running back Andrew banks for the game and Kevin Ah-Hi (shoulder) for the last three quarters, played the Warriors (7-1, 3-0) relatively evenly for 30 minutes.
“I was very impressed on film with Orange Coast,” Featherstone said. “They have a tremendous defense and we didn’t run the ball well.”
El Camino plays host to Fullerton in one of the biggest games of its season next Saturday.
“We are playing for the championship,” Featherstone said. “We want to go undefeated in Mission Conference.”
“We finally get to go home and if we win next week, we are at home for the conference championships and the next two games of the playoffs.”
Fullerton 47, Palomar 17: Kyle Olson passed for 260 yards and three TDs and ran for another in the Hornets’ biggest offensive game of the season. Brandon Edwards had 123 rushing yards in the road victory. Both teams are 6-2, 2-1
Long Beach 36, Golden West 31:The Rustlers (2-6, 0-3) took a one-point lead with 3:40 to play on Anthony Carlisle’s touchdown run but couldn’t prevent a five-play, 45-year drive by the Vikings (2-6, 1-2).
Saddleback 35, Santa Ana 14:The Gauchos (7-1, 3-0) outgained the Dons on the ground 154 yards to 1 in the first half in the home victory.
