Community College Roundup : Riverside Fumbles Its Way to 33-18 Loss to Saddleback

It took Saddleback College a quarter to get started in its Mission Conference game against Riverside City Saturday night.

But in a span of 1:46 in the second quarter, the Gauchos opened a 13-0 lead, ensuring there would be no repeat of the last-second victories they had to sweat out against the Tigers the last two seasons.

Saddleback quarterback Jason Schmid led the Gauchos to a 33-18 victory before 3,500 fans in Wheelock Field.

Schmid, a sophomore from Foothill High School, was 22 for 47 for 252 yards and 2 touchdown passes. He also ran for 50 yards on 14 carries.

In all, Schmid accounted for 302 of the Gauchos’ 394 yards in total offense.

And kicker Tracy Rutkowski made field goals of 46, 33, 42 and 37 yards.

But it was the Tigers’ inability to hold the ball that helped Saddleback most.

The Tigers (1-1 in conference and 2-2 overall) fumbled nine times, losing six.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Gauchos’ Mark Hicks recovered quarterback Donnie Bulmer’s fumble at the Tiger 27.

Five plays later, Schmid hit wide receiver Jeff Bielman with a four-yard scoring pass, giving Saddleback (2-0, 4-0) a 7-0 lead with 14:00 left in the half.

Then, on the next series, running back Clark Brown fumbled, giving the Gauchos the ball at the Tiger 18.

Rutkowski kicked a 46-yard field goal and it was 10-0.

Fumble No. 3 came on the Tigers’ next play. Keith Widener, in relief of Bulmer, fumbled the snap from center and Saddleback’s Paul Hess recovered at the Tiger 21. Another Rutkowski field goal, this one from 33 yards away, completed the scoring barrage.

A two-yard touchdown run by Widener with 6:00 left in the half pulled the Tigers within 13-6 and it appeared Riverside was over its bumbling.

But another Widener fumble--No. 5--killed a Tiger drive at the Gaucho 30.

Saddleback marched 70 yards in 9 plays, the touchdown coming on Schmid’s 10-yard pass to Brian Horgan. That gave Saddleback a 20-6 halftime lead.

In the second half, Riverside crept as close as 23-18 with 3:29 to go in the third quarter.

A Mike Moore 10-yard scoring run and a Paul Kent scoring pass from Bulmer did the damage.

But running back Roger Fickling scored on a nine-yard run to give the Gauchos a 30-18 lead with 14:55 left.

Rutkowski’s fourth field goal sealed the victory with 1:19 left.

Saddleback 0 20 10 3 -- 33 Riverside 0 6 12 0 -- 18 Sad--Mersola 4 pass from Schmid (Rutkowski kick)

Sad--FG Rutkowski 46

Sad--FG Rutkowski 33

RC--Widener 2 run (kick failed)

Sad--Horgan 10 pass from Schmid (Rutkowski kick)

Sad--FG Rutkowski 42

RC--Moore 10 run (run failed)

RC--Kemp 19 pass from Bulmer (run failed)

Sad--Fickling 9 run (Rutkowski kick)

Sad--FG Rutkowski 37

In other Mission Conference action:

Rancho Santiago 38, San Diego Mesa 27--The Dons (1-1, 3-1) defeated the Olympians (1-1, 2-2) in a high-scoring game in Merrill Douglass Stadium at San Diego.

In Pac-9 action:

Golden West 42, Pasadena City 25--Todd Parker gained a career-high 180 yards on 28 carries Saturday night to lead the Rustlers (1-1, 1-2-1) past the Lancers (0-1, 0-3) in LeBard Stadium.

Parker scored a touchdown in the first quarter on a nine-yard run. Quarterback Tim Hansen was 12 of 20 for a 138 yards.

Pasadena 7 0 6 12 -- 25 Golden West 7 14 7 14 -- 42 PCC--Evans 9 run (Gamble kick)

GW--Parker 10 run (Tomasick kick)

GW--Malloy 24 pass Swigart (Tomasick kick)

GW--Garrett 1 run (Tomasick kick)

GW--Ray 25 pass from Hanson (Tomasick kick)

PCC--Miller 62 pass from Moore (kick failed)

GW--Garrett 1 run (Tomasick kick)

PCC--Vann 3 run (run failed)

PCC--Evans 46 pass from Moore (pass failed)

GW--Vai Schierholtz 30 run (Tomasick kick)

Attendance--1,500

EL Camino 34, Cerritos 27--Warrior quarterback Ron Barber hit Calvin Gillory with a three-yard touchdown pass with just 1:29 remaining in the game to break a 27-27 tie and give EL Camino the upset win at Cerritos Stadium. El Camino improved its Pac-9 record to 2-0. The scoring play was made possible when El Camino’s Dennis McConnaughy recovered Cerritos punt returner Anthony Drawhorn fumbled at his own 30-yard line, with 4:58 remaning. Cerritos dropped to 1-1 in conference play.

El Camino 6 7 7 14 -- 34 Cerritos 6 0 7 14 -- 27 EC--Wimberly 9 pass from Barber (pass failed)

C--Guidry 55 pass Locy (kick failed)

EC--Young 5 run (Menard kick)

EC--Madison 5 pass from Barber (Menard kick)

C--Shelton 8 run (C. Balboa kick)

C--Backes 2 run (C. Balboa kick)

EC--Voegler 1 run (Menard kick)

C--Joice 26 pass from Locy (C. Balboa kick)

EC--Gillory 3 pass from Barber (Menard kick)

Attendance--2,100