Southwestern Meets Saddleback in Mission Showdown

Southwestern College will play its biggest game of the community college football season at 7:30 tonight when the Apaches play host to Saddleback at DeVore Stadium.

Both teams are 3-0 in Mission Conference play and 5-0 overall. Saddleback is third in the nation, third in the state and second in the Southland. Southwestern is 14th in the nation, ninth in the state and fourth in the Southland.

Saddleback has the state’s seventh-best offense, averaging 32.6 points and 401.4 yards a game. Gaucho quarterback Jason Schmid is the top-ranked passer in Southern California and is No. 2 in the state. He has completed 87 of 157 passes for 1,158 yards and 9 touchdowns. He has been intercepted four times.

Southwestern counters with the No. 3 defense in the state. The Apaches are surrendering 204.6 yards per game (49 rushing and 155.6 passing).

Offensively, Southwestern has rotated five quarterbacks. Brad Platt, a freshman from Hilltop, will open against Saddleback.

The Apaches, who are averaging 249.8 yards passing and 75.6 yards rushing, feature three talented receivers. Guy Liggins is No. 2 in the conference with 24 receptions for 520 yards. He is followed by Willie McCloud (15 for 281) and Art Ramsey (14 for 250).

Saddleback, which has won or shared the last eight conference titles, has a commanding 14-2 advantage in the series and hasn’t lost to the Apaches since 1972.