Newsom's big night lifts Pirates to 55-48 win over Gauchos

COSTA MESA -- Jon Newsom threw and ran for a combined 461 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Orange Coast College football team to a dramatic 55-48 win over visiting Saddleback on Saturday night at LeBard Stadium.

OCC's 617 total yards of offense was the second-most in school history. Only the Pirates' 628 yards against Golden West in 2000 bettered Saturday's performance.

And the majority of that offensive push came from Newsom, who threw for 376 yards and five touchdowns and also provided 85 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries for the Pirates (3-5, 1-3 in Southern Conference). His 59 plays set a new school record, previously held by Alvin White set all the way back in 1972 and his 36 points broke the previous-best mark of 30 points set by Ray Washington (1992) and Ray Holley (2009).

Newsom wasn't alone with the big numbers for OCC. Larenzo Williams added 95 yards on 23 carries, while receivers D.J. McFadden (three catches, 116 yards) and Angel Holmes (four catches, 107 yards) each pulled in two touchdowns for the Pirates, who snapped a six-game losing streak all time to the Gauchos (3-4, 1-2). 

The big win overshadowed some big offensive numbers by the Gauchos as well. Quarterback Tim Belman, who threw for 476 yards and six touchdowns and two interceptions on 30-of-46 passing. His favorite target -- by far -- was standout wide receiver Eric Lauderdale, who caught 13 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Jerry Stone added 88 rushing yards and one touchdown.

Both teams combined for 1,225 yards and the 103 combined points topped OCC's previous record of 102 set last year against College of the Desert (COD 52, OCC 50).

After a season of struggling to find consistent offensive success, the Pirates had their way with the Gauchos throughout the game. Late in the first quarter, Coast grabbed a 10-7 lead when a 13-play, 72-yard scoring drive was capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Newsom to Holmes.

OCC's defense held Saddleback to a punt and with the ball on the OCC 27-yard line, Newsom only needed one play to find pay dirt as he connected with McFadden on a 73-yard touchdown strike, putting Coast up 17-7.

On the second play of the second quarter, Belman hooked up with Lauderdale for a 30-yard touchdown strike to make it 17-14, but Coast answered right back with a six-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Newsom to Williams.

Belman and Lauderdale again connected with a 50-yard touchdown to make it 24-21 and after an OCC punt, Saddleback was threatening to score again, but a forced fumble by DeAndre Dickerson helped give the ball back to the Pirates.

Right before the end of the first half, Coast again made a statement with another grind-it-out drive and eight plays and 68 yards later, Newsom plowed in from a yard out with 33 seconds left to give Coast a 31-21 lead at the half.

Both teams traded blows for most of the second half before Saddleback picked up back-to-back touchdowns late in the third quarter to tie the game at 41.

The turning point came for Coast on its next drive. On first down at the Gauchos' 17-yard line, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a sack on Newsom pushed the Pirates outside of field-goal range. On third-and-32 from the Gauchos' 39, Newsom threw deep to McFadden and the wide receiver came down with the ball in the end zone to make it 48-41.

Saddleback turned the ball over on downs on its next possession and five plays later, Newsom hooked up with former Gaucho Stefano Pecci on a 19-yard touchdown to make it 55-41 with 8:59 remaining.

Coast again held on defense and had a chance to put the game away, but a 24-yard field goal was missed by the Pirates, giving Saddleback one last breath of life.

For the fourth time, Belman found Lauderdale for a touchdown -- this time from 27-yards out -- to make it 55-48 with 1:31 left.

Coast cleanly picked up the on-side kick and appeared to have things under control as Irie Murphy went back to punt with eight seconds left. 

However, the snap was mishandled and the Gauchos recovered on Coast's 31-yard line with two seconds left.

Finally, the Pirate players, coaches and fans could breathe easier as Belman's Hail Mary pass into the end zone was intercepted by Caleb Potter to end the game.

The win gives the Pirates some much-needed momentum heading into Saturday's "Battle for the Bell" matchup with Golden West, beginning at 6 p.m.