Pirates falter to Falcons

NORWALK – The Orange Coast College football team fell to 0-2 for the season with a 55-26 loss to Cerritos College on Saturday night at Falcon Stadium.

Freshman quarterback Alec Dombkowski threw for 258 yards on 19-of-34 passing for Coast, but the Falcons controlled the game with their high-powered offense, totaling 611 total yards against the Pirates' defense.

The first half was dominated on the offensive side of the ball for both teams. Cerritos (2-0) scored touchdowns on its first four possessions – all in the first quarter-- and racked up 224 yards over the first 15 minutes.

But, the Pirates hung tough and managed three first-quarter TDs of their own and trailed 28-20 after the first quarter. Kyle White, who finished for 96 yards on 13 carries, cashed in on a 34-yard touchdown run, but the missed extra point kept the Pirates trailing, 7-6.

A pair of Falcon touchdowns made it 21-6 before Coast mustered up a five-play, 63-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 1-yard TD run by Clayton Howard.

With the Coast behind 28-13, quarterback Dombkowski hooked up with A.J. Holman on a 21-yard touchdown strike, cutting the deficit to 28-20.

But the Falcons regained control of things with a pair of touchdowns late in the second quarter. The first came on a 3-yard TD run by DeVonte Carter and the second came when a Pirate returner misplayed a punt and Garren Jackson fell on the muffed attempt in the end zone with 17 seconds left, giving the Falcons a 42-20 halftime lead.

OCC opened the second-half scoring to trim the deficit down to 42-26 on a Dombkowski TD pass to Brett Perry, but that would be it for the Pirate offense for the rest of the night. OCC, which had 264 yards in the first half, was held to just 128 yards in the second half.

Mark Munson was OCC's top receiver with seven receptions for 87 yards.

For the Falcons, quarterback Jimmy Walker threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-27 passing. Running back Mike Garrison ran for 95 yards on 14 carries, while receiver Domonique Young hauled in six catches for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Defensive leaders for the Pirates included Joseph Jackson (12 tackles, three solo) and Austin Brewer (12 tackles, two unassisted).

The Pirates will return to action on Saturday at Moorpark College, beginning at 6 p.m.