Like It or Not, Rancho Santiago Set to Meet Fullerton

If Dave Ogas, Rancho Santiago College coach, had his way, tonight’s 62nd meeting between the Dons and rival Fullerton would be the last.

There are three reasons Ogas feels that way. First, he’s tired of having to open the season against the physical Hornets, who tend to send a lot of opposing players to the sidelines in search of medical attention. Second, he is tired of having to compete against a school that has more than double the high schools Rancho Santiago has from which to recruit. Finally, he’s tired of getting beaten--Fullerton has defeated the Dons four straight times and in 18 of the last 22 meetings.

Ogas’ arguments have gained some sympathy, but none of it has come from his school’s athletic director, Roger Wilson. Wilson, if nothing else but for tradition’s sake, wants the nation’s oldest community college rivalry to continue.

And he’s doing everything in his power to ensure just that.

This week, while Ogas was telling sportswriters why the Don-Hornet rivalry should be put to rest, Wilson was making plans to negotiate a new contract for the 63rd game between the schools.

“Dave and I have a real difference of opinion on this, but I think there’s going to be a game next year, and every year after that,” Wilson said.

“It might be old-school thinking, but I happen to think that the tradition of the game is more important than the outcome. To me and to our alumni, it’s a very important game, an institution, really. I think it’s safe to say that it won’t be us that ends the rivalry.”

Ogas isn’t happy to hear that, but Hal Sherbeck, Fullerton’s coach, is.

“All people seem to want to do these days is to do away with tradition,” said Sherbeck, who is entering his 25th season at Fullerton. “To me, you should maintain a good thing, and this rivalry has been good for community college athletics.

“You really have to go beyond the game itself to see its value. It gives us publicity that we really can’t afford to lose. Isn’t it funny, that when they’ve dominated the series, we’ve never complained or considered ending it?”

That may be because since Sherbeck took over in 1961, the Hornets are 18-6 against the Dons. They had an eight-game winning streak against Rancho Santiago from 1963-1970, a six-game win streak from 1972-1977 and the current streak that started after Tim Mills coached the Dons to three-straight wins from 1978 to 1980.

Fullerton, which leads the overall series 30-27-4, will be favored to win again tonight. The Hornets finished 10-1 last year, tied for the championship of the tough Pac-9 Conference, defeated Saddleback in the PONY Bowl and were ranked third in the nation. But Fullerton may be even better in 1985. Sherbeck says he has one of his best defenses and has also been very impressed with tailback John Green.

Sophomore Mike Zorn, who was used sparingly last year as Rocky Mouw’s backup, will start at quarterback.

Rancho Santiago also should be better than last year’s team, which finished 6-4 and won five of its last six games. The Dons have a lot of experience, a quarterback (Silvio Delligatta) who saw some action last year and much stronger defensive and offensive lines. They should not be overpowered at the line of scrimmage the way so many Hornet opponents are.

How badly Rancho Santiago will miss injured running back Mike Jones, who will be out indefinitely, isn’t known. Freshman Sean Sawyer from El Modena High School will start in his place.

The Dons played Fullerton tough last year before losing, 43-33, and might have even pulled off an upset had quarterback Dave Money not thrown four first-half interceptions.

In other community college action Saturday:

Golden West vs. Orange Coast, LeBard Stadium, 7:30--This game between Coast Community College District rivals matches two of the biggest offensive lines in the state. The Rustlers average 270 pounds from tackle-to-tackle, the Pirates 250. And both teams return solid sophomore running backs in Golden West’s Todd Parker and Orange Coast’s Chris Mendenhall. But at quarterback, Orange Coast seems to have a distinct advantage. Ken Laszlo threw for 976 yards and nine touchdowns last year, and he figures to be even more productive as leader of the Pirates’ wishbone attack this season. On the other hand, Ray Shackleford, Golden West’s coach, doesn’t have an experienced quarterback. Sophomore Tim Hanson, who played only a few downs in 1984, will start tonight, but redshirt freshmen Eric Lawton and Bill Marler are also fighting for the right to replace record-breaking passer John Heinle, who has graduated. Both Shackleford, who has a 19-year career record of 109-71-6, and Orange Coast’s Dick Tucker, who has a 23-year career record of 127-95-4, feel that their teams will be much improved from last season’s 4-6 performances. Both teams appear to have better overall personnel, better depth and stronger defenses than they’ve had in several seasons. Golden West leads the series, 10-8-1, with nine of the 19 games being decided by a touchdown or less. The Rustlers have won five of the last six meetings. Golden West was ranked 14th in the preseason Southland Poll, Orange Coast 15th.

El Camino vs. Saddleback, Saddleback Field, 7:30--The Gauchos will attempt to avenge last year’s season-opening loss to El Camino and extend their home winning streak to 44 games. Saddleback, ranked third behind Taft and Fullerton in the preseason Southland Poll, has one of its strongest teams ever. Quarterback Jason Schmid is considered one of the best players at his position in the state, and he has the benefit of throwing to several talented receivers and working behind a big, experienced offensive line. On top of that, Saddleback has a breakaway threat in Bret Mersola, a University of Colorado transfer running back who has 4.37 speed in the 40-yard dash. The Gaucho defense, led by linebacker Yepi Pauu, lineman Neil Walner and cornerback Allan Roman, should be equally strong. El Camino has a new coach in John Featherstone, former Rancho Santiago offensive coordinator, and look for the Warriors to pass even more this season than last year when they had the potent duo of quarterback Larry Egger and receiver Loren Richey.