Saddleback Uses Fumbles to Win, 43-8

Saddleback College capitalized on three San Diego City fumbles to score 22 points in the first quarter en route to a 43-8, Mission Conference victory Saturday night at Saddleback.

The win was Saddleback’s 47th straight at home and kept the Gauchos unbeaten (5-0) in conference play, 6-0 overall.

Saddleback quarterback Jason Schmidt was held to less than 200 yards passing for the first time this season, but it didn’t matter as the Gauchos took advantage of San Diego City’s sloppy play in the first quarter.

Freshman Roger Fickling scored on runs of 1 and 4 yards and Bret Mersola scored from 1 yard out as Saddleback took a 19-0 lead with 4:47 left in the first quarter. Tracy Rutkowski kicked a 47-yard field goal to extend the Gauchos’ lead to 22-0.

San Diego City did not cross midfield or complete a pass until the fourth quarter, when the Knights drove for their only score of the game.

Saddleback 43, San Diego City 8 S--Mersola 1 run (kick blocked)

S--Fickling 1 run (run failed)

S--Fickling 4 run (Rutkowski kick)

S--FG Rutkowski 47

S--Mersola 7 run (Rutkowski kick)

S--Fickling 2 run (Rutkowski kick)

S--Truong 6 pass from Schmidt (Rutkowski kick)

SD--Dailey 13 run (Harris run)

Attendance--900

In other Mission Conference action:

Southwestern 17, Orange Coast 7--The Apaches took a 14-0, halftime lead and held off a late Orange Coast rally for the victory in LeBard Stadium. The Pirates forced six Southwestern turnovers, but could not convert any into scores.

Orange Coast (1-3, 1-4-1) closed to within a touchdown at 14-7 by driving 96 yards in eight plays early in the fourth quarter. Chris Mendenhall, who finished as the game’s leading rusher with 75 yards on 14 carries, capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. Mendenhall set up the score with a 30-yard run.

The Pirates appeared to stop Southwestern on its next posession, but were penalized for roughing the passer and a personal foul, enabling Southwestern to maintain possession. The Apaches got the clinching score on a 23-yard field goal by Tyler Ackerson.

Quarterback Brad Platt completed 18 of 26 passes for 260 yards for Southwestern (4-1, 6-1). Platt threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Willie McCloud in the first quarter but had three passes intercepted.

Southwestern 17, Orange Coast 7 S--McCloud 25 pass from Platt (Ackerson kick)

S--Liggins 4 pass from Hill (Ackerson kick)

OC--Mendenhall 2 run (Cortez kick)

S--FG Ackerson 23

Attendance--1,000

Rancho Santiago 28, Palomar 16--The Dons erupted for 21 points in the second quarter and held off Palomar’s fourth-quarter comeback attempt for the victory at Santa Ana Stadium.

Laroy Montgomery intercepted a Palomar pass and returned it 93 yards for a Rancho Santiago touchdown, then picked off another Palomar pass on the next play from scrimmage to set up another Don score. The win improves Rancho Santiago’s record to 2-3 in conference play, 4-3 overall.

Rancho Santiago 28, Palomar 16 RS--Brown 13 run (Willis kick)

RS--Nasser 5 pass from Delligatta (Willis kick)

P--FG Black 25

RS--Montgomery 93 interception return (Willis kick)

RS--Brown 1 run (Willis kick)

P--Parks 6 run (pass failed)

P--Collins 12 pass from Beadle (Black kick)

Attendance--1,000

In PAC-9 Conference action:

Golden West 24, Long Beach City 23--The Rustlers scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5:02 to play and, with Fullerton’s upset of Taft, moved into a tie for the conference lead with the win at LeBard Stadium.

Fullback Ted Pappas caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Tim Hanson to give the Rustlers the margin of victory. Golden West moved 58 yards in eight plays following a Long Beach punt for the winning score. Pappas kept the drive going with a 9-yard reception on a fourth-and-six play.

Golden West (3-1, 3-2-1) rebounded after falling behind, 13-0 in the first quarter. The win was the Rustlers’ third straight.

Golden West 24, Long Beach City 23 LB--Shaw 2 run (kick failed)

LB--Chronister 7 pass from Wilson (Lambert kick)

GW--T. Parker 13 pass from Hanson (Youmans kick)

LB--McCullough 29 pass from Wilson (Lambert kick)

GW--Hanson 1 run (kick failed)

GW--Safety, Melvin tackled in end zone

GW--FG Youmans 23

LB--FG Lambert 33

GW--Pappas 15 pass from Hanson (pass failed)

Attendance--1,500