Pirates falter in football shootout with Vaqueros

GLENDALE -- The Orange Coast College football team found some offensive success on Saturday, but it wasn't enough as the Pirates fell short, 50-42, on Saturday to host Glendale College.

After struggling to find some successful footing with the ball, the Pirates (1-5, 0-2 in American Metro Division) put up some impressive numbers against the Vaqueros (5-2, 2-0). Quarterback J.D. Rafkin threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns on 20-of-34 passing and the Pirate defense and special teams also found the scoreboard as well. 

After a Zach Grisotti punt pinned Glendale onto their own goal line, OCC grabbed the early lead when Nathan Bernal came up with an interception at the Pirate 20 and ran it all the way back for a touchdown, putting Coast up, 7-0.

Early in the second, with the Pirates trailing 13-7, Colin Gregg took a Glendale kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown, putting Coast up, 14-13. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2015, when Matthew Nelson did it for the Pirates against Santa Ana.

Glendale responded with another pair of touchdowns to take a 26-14 lead before Coast used an 8-play, 67-yard scoring drive to make it 26-21, thanks to a 33-yard touchdown pass from Rafkin to Aaron Fletcher with 18 seconds left in the first half. 

Early in the third quarter, Coast had the ball, but the Vaqueros turned that possession into points when Chuck Shull picked off a pass and returned it 30 yards for a Glendale touchdown, putting the Vaqueros up, 33-21.

Another costly miscue by the Pirates turned into Glendale points when a botched punt attempt turned into a Vaquero touchdown, putting the hosts up 40-21.

Rafkin used another big passing play to generate points for the Pirates as he hooked up with Jamaal Fisher for a 38-yard touchdown strike, trimming the Glendale advantage to 40-28.

A Glendale field goal made it 43-28 before Rafkin found his third touchdown strike of the afternoon when he hooked up with Fletcher for a 45-yard TD reception to make it a one-score game at 43-35. Fletcher finished with three catches for 95 yards and two TDs to lead the Pirate receivers. Edwin LaCrosse led all OCC receivers with nine catches for 92 yards and a TD.

Needing a stop to get the ball back with a chance to tie things up, the Pirates just couldn't get the Vaqueros' offense off the filed and after a 24-yard TD completion, Glendale regained a comfortable 50-35 lead with 2:22 remaining in the game.

Coast gave itself a sliver of hope when Rafkin hooked up with LaCrosse for 7-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining, but the ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Vaqueros, ending the comeback bid.

The Pirates will return to action on Saturday at home against Santa Ana, beginning at 1 p.m. The traditional "Victory Flag" will be on the line as the Pirates and Dons renew their 73-year-old rivalry, dating back to OCC's first year of competitive football. It will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2015 (a 38-17 win by the Pirates).