Steve Virgen
Away from the hard-hitting on the football field, Orange Coast
College linebackers Dustin Davis, Martin Janzon and Justin Blackard have
the personality that could make up one of those teen boybands. Think
NSYNC, with muscles.
Dustin Davis: the rebel-like/stud with a goatee to support the look.
Martin Janzon: the charming, pretty-boy ladies man.
Justin Blackard: the laid-back, sweet-smile teddy bear.
But get these teen's dreams on the field and they change their tune.
When it's gametime, Davis, Janzon and Blackard have the strength that
is similar to a hard rock band. Think Pantera -- loud, in your face and
relentless.
Davis, Janzon and Blackard will be leading the defense into the
Pirates' matchup against rival Golden West in OCC's Mission Conference
Central Division opener at LeBard Stadium Saturday at 7 p.m.
Davis, who plays outside linebacker and is a team captain, said the
matchup against Golden West will be heated.
"(Golden West is) already talking some stuff that they're going to
burn our defense," Davis said. "They said that our offensive lineman
(Gary Lewellyn) is just a publicity stunt. I think it's better to keep
your mouth shut and play."
Be it Golden West or Pasadena, Davis will be ready to play regardless
of the rivalry. At Pasadena, Oct. 7, he racked up 14 tackles.
He said he loves playing linebacker because he gets to hit --
quarterbacks, running backs, anyone who is on the offense.
No one is safe.
"When you take a big, fat offensive lineman down, it's the best,"
Davis said.
But the 6-1, 230-pound sophomore out of Mater Dei is still waiting to
latch onto an interception and take it to the house. When he gets in the
end zone, he already has a touchdown celebration prepared. It's called
the "Sea Walk," but before he could give a preview of the dance, he held
back.
"Let me get the points first and then we'll all get to see it," Davis
said.
Davis' playfulness is a bit contrary to the Pirates' character on
defense. OCC's defense is about attitude and intimidation, Davis said.
"We're called the Roughnecks," Blackard said of the defense. "We're a
bunch of scrappers. We don't come here to look pretty, we come to kick
some butt.
They come to play o7 forsvarf7 -- oro7 defensef7 in Swedish,
Janzon's native language. Janzon, OCC's starting outside linebacker, was
born and raised in Sweden. He's fluent in Swedish, German and English.
He's been in America for the past two years and came here mainly to play
football.
