Pirates come alive to topple Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA -- The Orange Coast College football team used a 27-point second quarter to pull away from host Santa Monica City College en route to a 46-14 nonconference win on Saturday afternoon.

Kody Whitaker threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns -- all to wide receiver Joey Cox -- to lead the Pirates (2-2). A'Brae Booker Curin rushed for 103 yards and two TDs on 13 carries, while Burrell Walker added 86 yards and two TDs on 16 carries as the OCC ground game out-rushed the Corsairs, 234-to-minus-3.

Coast put up points on its opening drive as the Pirates used eight plays and 70 yards to find the end zone when Whitaker hooked up with Cox on a 17-yard touchdown reception. The extra point was blocked and Coast led, 6-0.

But Santa Monica marched back and capped off a nine-play, 53-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Weston Masset to put SMCC ahead, 7-6 after the made PAT.

It stayed that way through the opening quarter before Coast found its offensive groove and pulled away from the Corsairs. A 3-yard TD run by Walker just two minutes into the second quarter, put OCC ahead, 13-7, and it started a stretch of five consecutive scoring drives, all resulting in touchdowns. 

Following a 54-yard completion from Whitaker to James Rutledge, Walker plowed in on 4-yard TD run to put the Pirates in front, 20-7.

Following a SMCC punt, Whitaker again found Cox for a 34-yard touchdown and the Pirates cruised from there.

Booker-Curin capped off the 27-point second quarter with an 18-yard TD run with 2:20 left in the half, putting OCC up 34-7 at the break.

It became 40-7 less than 2 minutes into the third quarter when Whitaker found Cox for a 28-yard TD strike.

Booker-Currin capped off a successful offensive afternoon for the Pirates when he raced in for a 33-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The OCC defense -- led by six tackles by Melvin Irby and four tackles (three sacks) by Josh Howell -- held the Corsairs (0-4) to just 133 yards of total offense and forced seven punts throughout the afternoon.

Coast returns to Dick Tucker Field for a Saturday night matchup against Mt. San Antonio College, beginning at 6 p.m.