Pirates look to find right formula against ELAC

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College football team continues to push forward as the Pirates host East Los Angeles College on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. at LeBard Stadium.

The Pirates are looking for some positive results this weekend after another hard-fought game came up short for Coast in a 28-14 loss to Cerritos College this past Saturday night.

Sophomore quarterback Zach Congalton has had his hand in 10 of OCC's 12 touchdowns this year, throwing for 742 yards and seven TDs with a 52.4 completion percentage as well as three rushing TDs with a team-best 324 yards on the ground on 54 carries.

Coast running backs Paul Mendoza and Anthony Osorio have combined for 223 rushing yards and will look to give Congalton some help with the Pirate ground game. In the air, receivers Isaiah Esquibel and Jeremiah Espitia have been the go-to guys for the Pirates, combining for 43 catches for 501 yards.

The Pirate defense -- which enters tonight ranked 10th in the state in rushing yards allowed (80.5 yards per game) -- has been led by the linebacking duo of Rocky Jack (29 tackles, 7 tackles for loss) and Jayden Niumata (28 tackles, 7 TFL, two sacks). 

For the Huskies (1-3), their season-opening 34-7 win over Grossmont has been washed away by three tough losses to Allan Hancock (40-27), Fullerton (44-3) and Golden West (49-7).

Following the departure of starting quarterback Daunte Bell to an injury, the Huskies have struggled to find any offensive consistency over the past two games. Last week, quarterback Michael Anderson got the start and threw for 91 yards and a touchdown with a pair of interceptions on just 9-of-27 passing. 

The ELAC ground game has been led by the duo of Tanner Anderson (22 carries, 79 yards, one TD) and Brandon Giron (39-78, 1 TD), while wide receivers Camarion Thornton (7 catches, 119 yards, 1 TD), Chris Hicks (6-133, 2 TDs) and Lamont White (6-83, 2 TDs) are the guys to keep an eye on down the field for the OCC secondary.

On defense, sophomore defensive back Timmy Fleischood has put up strong numbers, leading the Huskies with 34 tackles, one forced fumble and a pair of interceptions that he returned for touchdowns.