Pirates look for all-around performance on Saturday against Falcons

COSTA MESA -- While the final scores have been frustrating, the Orange Coast College football team continues to fight and show improvements on both sides of the ball and this Saturday, coach Bubba Gonzalez hopes for the results to reflect the upswing as the Pirates travel to Cerritos College to take on the Falcons, beginning at 6 p.m.

Last week, Coast dug an early hole but managed to hang tough with a solid Santa Barbara City College squad before things got loose in the second half of Saturday's 48-14 defeat, but Gonzalez saw some good things that hopefully can manifest itself into more and more good things for the Pirates.

"I saw it right away on the defensive side," Gonzalez said. "Obviously we didn't want to start the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown and then we turn the ball over on the ensuing kickoff. I wasn't sure how we'd react, but the defense came out and decided we were just going to turn it on and play hard, physical football. I felt our defense played well and when we came out in the second half and scored, it was 20-14 and we were feeling good and we're rolling ... but unfortunately, sometimes special teams can just turn the momentum of a game in a heartbeat and when we gave up the punt return for the touchdown, everything just seemed to come down and we couldn't get back in the game."

After giving up some big numbers the previous two games, the Pirate defense showed what it could do for the majority of the game, holding the Vaqueros to under 200 yards passing and under 100 yards rushing. In addition, the Coast defense also managed to put points on the scoreboard, thanks to a 63-yard interception return from Nathaniel Lyken. 

Joseph Near led Coast with nine tackles, while Mason Lambooy added seven tackles and a forced fumble and Lyken added five tackles in addition to his pick-six.

"I think our defense took a big step forward and they showed that they can play at a high level," Gonzalez said. "They came out and kept the game close for us when it could have been 14-0 right away."

On the offensive side of things, Zach Congalton led the way with 110 rushing yards and a touchdown, in addition to 8-of-16 passing for 60 yards. 

"Offensively we had some success and we were moving the ball but we couldn't finish drives when we needed them to," Gonzalez said. "We had some costly penalties and mistakes that were hard to overcome."

This week's opponents, the Cerritos College Falcons (2-1), come in fresh off of a 35-31 win at Ventura College on Saturday. Quarterback Dylan Eldredge -- who threw the game-winning TD late in the fourth quarter -- finished the game 34-of-43 passing for 418 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. Gavin Porch caught three of those TD passes and led the team with eight receptions. Dillion Laurer caught seven passes for 106 yards, while the Falcons' leading rusher, Michael Hayes, ran for 70 yards on 14 carries.

"Cerritos is a great program ... a longstanding successful program," Gonzalez said. "For us we are going to have to show up and play with great focus and great intensity. I think we have the ability to give them troubles and hopefully we can get things done."

After three games, it's the time of the season for adjustments to be made and for Gonzalez and the Pirates, they are working hard to find the right combinations. "We are not close-minded to anything and we will do our best to put our kids in the best possible situation to be successful. We will utilize whatever personnel we have and perhaps use them in situations where they will all be out there at the same time. Guys going both ways from time to time and using other guys on special teams ... making it a total team effort. Some injuries have dwindled down our depth a bit but we have confidence in the guys that we have. Now it's up to them to step up to the plate and execute at a high level. Focus on our own individual battles and find success with each of those battles."

Looking beyond the final scores, the Pirates are making progress and Gonzalez is hoping for Saturday's game with the Falcons will be a opportunity to prove some critics wrong and show the potential that this team has.

"It feels like we are very close to getting everyone playing together at the same time and that's what we are focusing on," Gonzalez said. "Building on the things we are doing well. Hopefully this Saturday we can put it all together at once."