OCC’s Mohler Defensive POY

Orange Coast College sophomore outside linebacker Shaun Mohler tops a list of 10 Pirates named All-Mission Conference American Division by the six division coaches.

Mohler, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound sophomore out of Corona del Mar High, leads the conference in tackles (83) and tackles for loss (22) and has also collected a team-best 5.5 sacks and has intercepted one pass. Mohler, who is considering Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Kentucky, helped the Pirates lead the 12-team Mission Conference in total defense (288.7 yards allowed per game) and pass defense (179.9 yards per game).

He was a first-team All-National Division performer last season, when he also earned first-team all-state laurels in Division IV.

Joining Mohler on the first-team all-division defense are sophomore cornerback Chris Holmesly, as well as freshman defensive end Dean DeLeone and freshman free safety Shad Baichtal.

Sophomore Nathan Barnett repeats as a first-team kick returner.

Representing OCC (4-5, 2-2 in the division) on the second-team defense are sophomore middle linebacker Matt Harris and freshman tackle Alipate Tokomaata.

Pirates named to the second-team offense are freshman tailback Kevin Ah-Hi, freshman tight end Bill Brown and sophomore center Randy Seton.

Holmesly, a second-team All-National Division performer last season, had two interceptions and 50 tackles, including 27 solo stops, as the Pirates’ best cover corner. The 5-10, 185-pounder led the team with 10 pass breakups, while forcing one fumble and recovering one fumble.

Baichtal, like Holmesly a Mission Viejo High product, leads the conference with six interceptions through nine games. The Pirates are playing their final contest, a makeup game with Golden West, on Friday at OCC. He also chipped in 53 tackles, though undersized at 5-9, 170.

DeLeone, a 6-3, 228-pounder who returned to football after serving in the Coast Guard, was the most productive member of the Pirates’ front four. He has 65 tackles, second only to Mohler, and he also has 3.5 sacks. The son of former Ohio State and NFL center Tom DeLeone, he has 14 tackles for loss and has broke up three passes.

Barnett, a 5-11, 180-pound receiver, has amassed 601 yards on 22 kickoff returns, an average of 27.3 yards. He has no returns for touchdowns, but has consistently put the Pirates’ offense in prime field position. Recognizing his talents, opposing teams often kicked away from him.

Barnett also has a team-leading 29 receptions for 377 yards and one touchdown and has carried 11 times for 26 rushing yards. He caught the two-point conversion pass that clinched a 35-34 double-overtime win over Fullerton.

Harris, a 6-2, 225-pounder also out of Mission Viejo High, has 63 tackles, including 14 for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Ah-Hi, who carried a school-record 48 times for 266 yards in Saturday’s 20-14 victory over Long Beach, has rushed for 738 yards and five touchdowns on 165 carries this fall. The transfer from Montana State also has two receptions for 16 yards.

Brown, a 6-3, 227-pounder out of Newport Harbor High, has 12 receptions, fourth most on the team, for 126 yards.

Seton, a 6-2, 260-pounder from Maryland, is the anchor of the offensive line.

Tokomaata, 6-0, 270, has collected just 14 tackles, including two sacks. But his work in the trenches has kept blockers off the linebacking crew, allowing them to consistently make plays.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].