OCC Seeks to Remain in Title Hunt

Orange Coast has a shot at the Mission Conference Northern Division football title, thanks to a two-game winning streak. But the Pirates (4-4, 2-1 in the division) must beat Mt. San Antonio (6-2, 3-0) when the teams meet at 1 today at Orange Coast to keep their hopes alive. OCC concludes its season at El Camino.

The Pirates got into the race with a couple of dramatic finishes, including a 48-42 victory over Long Beach in six overtimes last Saturday. The Pirates had rallied for two late touchdowns to beat Pasadena the week before.

Today’s game will match OCC’s passing attack, which leads the conference at 284 yards a game, against Mt. San Antonio’s defense, which is giving up a conference-low 160 yards a game.

In Central Division games:

Fullerton (3-5, 2-1) at Riverside (3-5, 2-1), 7 p.m.--Both teams have recovered after poor starts and the winner will go into the final week of the season tied for first in the division.

Saddleback (3-5, 1-2) vs. Palomar (6-2, 2-1), San Marcos High, 1 p.m.--Each is coming off a painful loss. Saddleback fell to Fullerton, 35-25. Palomar lost to Santa Ana, 19-17, and dropped from seventh to 15th in the nation and from first to fifth in Southern California.

Santa Ana (5-3, 2-1) vs. Golden West (0-8, 0-3), Orange Coast College, 7 p.m.--Santa Ana needs a victory tonight and another over Riverside next week to have a good chance at a bowl bid.