Pirates suffer tough loss to Comets, 28-27

ESCONDIDO -- Costly penalties and self-inflicted errors proved too much to overcome for the Orange Coast College football team as the Pirates were edged by host Palomar, 28-27 in the Southern League opener for both teams on Saturday night at Escondido High School.

The Pirates (2-4, 0-1) trailed 21-7 early in the second quarter when Michael Moore picked off a Kody Whitaker pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, but the OCC sophomore and the rest of his teammates weathered the early storm and found a way to get back into the game.

Four minutes after Moore's TD return, Coast calmly racked up a 10-play, 77-yard drive that was capped off by a 30-yard touchdown pass from Whitaker to Derrick Hunt, the first of three straight TDs for the freshman running back. Hunt racked up 141 rushing yards on 17 carries and also grabbed three catches for 72 yards to lead the comeback for the Pirates.

Coast started the second half with the ball and again managed to find an efficient way to pick apart the Comets' defense. After dodging a turnover by recovering their own fumble, the Pirates worked their way down to the Palomar 11-yard line and from there, Hunt dashed his way into the end zone to tie the game at 21.

Palomar (3-3, 1-0) attempted to take a 24-21 lead with 7:43 left in the game, but a 26-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Keith Ford and the game remained deadlocked.

Coast took that possession and took its first lead of the game when Hunt found daylight and scored on a 51-yard TD run with 3:35 remaining. 

However, on the ensuing point-after attempt, the kick was wide left -- OCC's seventh missed extra point of the season -- and the Pirates' lead was only six at 27-21.

OCC overcame a 72-yard run by Josh Bernard when Preston Hendry forced the ball loose from Benard's grip on the next play and Brandon Stafford recovered, giving the Pirates the ball with just two minutes remaining.

However, the Pirates could not gain a first down to run down the clock and Palomar took over on their own 45-yard line with just 55 seconds left.

Two plays later, Coast had the game won when Sharky Reza intercepted a pass by Matt Romero, but the pickoff was negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty and Palomar kept its possession on the OCC 40.

A pass interference play two plays later moved the ball down the Pirate 20-yard line and on the next play, Romero hooked up with Terrell Arnold for a touchdown catch with just 17 seconds left in the game.

Sam Tapia drilled the PAT and the Comets led, 28-27, but OCC still managed one final play for a shot at victory.

Following a 21-yard completion to A'Brae Booker-Currin, Coast tossed up a Hail Mary on the final play and the ball was batted into the air in the end zone with a couple of receivers in the neighborhood, but neither could make the play and the game was over.

Whitaker finished with 307 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-34 passing, with receiver Joey Cox (nine catches, 108 yards) as his primary target. James Rutledge was another receiving weapon for Coast with five catches, 62 yards and OCC's opening TD catch in the first quarter.

Romero went 15-of-22 for 231 yards and one TD, while Bernard rushed for 104 yards and a pair of TDs for the Comets.

Coast will regroup and play at Grossmont College on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.