Late score lifts Orange Coast

Orange Coast football gamer vs. Santa AnaCrowell scores on 1-yard run with 13 seconds left for the difference in defensive struggle with host Dons Saturday.SANTA ANA -- With time running out and the Orange Coast College football team trailing, 7-3, against host Santa Ana Saturday, Pirates’ Offensive Coordinator Matt Mitchell decided to give a former run-and-shoot quarterback the option to do either.

OCC freshman Kekoa Crowell took advantage, rolling right and running untouched into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown with 13 seconds left to lift the Pirates to a 10-7 triumph in a Mission Conference National Division game at the Santa Ana Bowl.

The victory was the second straight division road win for the Pirates (5-3, 2-1 in the division), who knocked Santa Ana out of a logjam for second place and maintained at least a share of second place themselves with two regular-season games remaining.

“It was nothing but instinct,” Crowell said of the game-winning touchdown, which capped a 13-play, 73-yard drive after the Dons (5-3, 1-2) scored with 3:51 remaining to take the lead. “The call was a pass on a rollout and I could either throw or run. The three guys they had watching me got caught in the middle and the run was wide open.”

Crowell, who since becoming the full-time starter before the El Camino game Oct. 15 has helped rejuvenate a struggling offense, was the key on the game-winning possession. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, who triggered a run-and-shoot offense last season at Kauai High in Hawaii, threw for 61 yards and ran for another 5 on the march.

He lofted a perfect strike to Damola Adeniji for 25 yards on third-and-nine to the Santa Ana 37-yard line. He later threw short to George Raco on third-and-four and Raco darted 21 yards after the catch to the Dons’ 5 to set up first-and-goal.

After OCC fullback Chris Shynn dropped a would-be completion, OCC was flagged for holding, pushing the visitors back to the 15.

Crowell threw 4 yards to Jimmy Thorson and OCC called timeout with 47 seconds left.

After an incomplete pass and another OCC timeout, Crowell threw wide of Adeniji, who was dueling Santa Ana defender Richard Salazar for position in the end zone.

But Salazar was called for defensive holding, giving OCC an automatic first down on the 5-yard line with 39 seconds left.

Crowell, operating out of the shotgun, scrambled up the middle to the 1 on first down, then quickly hustled into formation to spike the ball with 17 ticks remaining.

After a Santa Ana timeout, Crowell took the snap under center and sprinted for the winning touchdown.

“We called a rollout there, because we know Kekoa can run,” OCC Coach Mike Taylor said. “It’s a big win. It was an exciting game and I’m proud of my players.”

Crowell’s scoring scamper helped the Pirates, ranked No. 11 in Southern California, salvage an otherwise frustrating day on offense against the No. 8-ranked Dons.

A 46-yard run by sophomore tailback Robert Aoki helped lead to a 34-yard Kyle Vandenbos field goal to allow OCC to open the scoring with 18 seconds left in the first half.

Thorson fumbled after a reception at the Santa Ana 15-yard line to halt one promising first-half possession .

And, after OCC regained possession at the Dons’ 40 after a 27-yard punt, a 38-yard field-goal attempt by Vandenbos was blocked early in the second quarter.

Santa Ana, which came in averaging just more than 41 points per game and was No. 2 in the 12-team conference in total offense, also had scoring opportunities in the first three quarters.

But OCC, which came in ranked No. 1 in the conference in total defense, helped hold Santa Ana sophomore Daniel Morales without a touchdown pass for the first time all season.

And, Santa Ana sophomore kicker Curtis Gladden, who had made 9 of 12 field-goal tries the first seven games, including a 50-yarder among five field goals against Golden West Oct. 15, also struggled.

Gladden missed a 39-yard attempt wide left on Santa Ana’s first possession. He was wide right on a 37-yard attempt on the Don’s first possession after halftime, then hooked a 44-yard try wide left with 3:34 left in the third quarter.

OCC sophomore receiver Shane Hoffman made a leaping reception for a 27-yard gain to the Santa Ana 2-yard line late in the third quarter. But after a run lost a yard, a personal foul penalty on the Pirates and two incomplete passes, Vandebos’ 35-yard field-goal attempt caromed wide off the right upright as time ran out in the third quarter.

After Crowell’s touchdown run, OCC cornerback Paul Barnes intercepted the third of Morales’ long desperation passes to seal the win.

OCC cornerback Cory Nicol made his sixth interception of the season in the first quarter.

Santa Ana produced just 125 rushing yards and 120 passing, while Crowell finished 20 of 36 passing for 207 yards.

Aoki carried 21 times for 124 yards.