PONY Bowl : Saddleback Looking for That First Win

It’s not that Saddleback College has a chance to win its first national championship, or that the undefeated Gauchos can snap their three-game postseason losing streak today when they play Fullerton in the fifth PONY Bowl.

What really has Coach Ken Swearingen excited about the 1 p.m. game in Costa Mesa’s LeBard Stadium is that the Gauchos have another opportunity to beat their rivals for the first time and prove that they are the best community college team in Orange County.

Saddleback was routed by Fullerton in the first meeting between the perennial powers in the 1982 PONY Bowl, 38-6, and lost to the Hornets in last year’s game, 13-10.

“Forget about the national title, we just want to beat Fullerton,” Swearingen said. “We don’t want to have to wait for a poll to decide how good we are, we want the scoreboard to decide.

“We’ve never beaten them. We’re the young school trying to fight its way to the top. They’re the older school that’s been on top for years. To me, that’s what makes this a good game. “

Last year, the pressure was on Fullerton, which was heavily favored to defeat Saddleback. Only a touchdown in the final minute allowed the Hornets to avert an upset.

But this year, the pressure will be on Saddleback, which is the favorite largely because it has quarterback Jason Schmid, who passed for a school-record 2,483 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The Gauchos finished the regular season 10-0 and won the Mission Conference championship for the ninth consecutive year. They enter the game ranked No. 2 in the nation by the JC Grid Wire and No. 1 in the Southland. If Snow College of Utah, ranked No. 1 in the nation, loses to Northeastern Oklahoma in today’s Mid-American Bowl in Tulsa, Saddleback will be in postion to win the national title.

But getting past Fullerton (8-2), which is ranked No. 7 in the nation and No. 2 in the Southland, won’t be easy. The Hornets lost two of their first three games for their worst start since 1963, but have won seven straight, including a 20-6 decision over powerful Taft at Taft, en route to a second straight title in the tough Pac-9 Conference.

What’s more, Hal Sherbeck, in his 25th year as Fullerton’s coach, will be seeking his 200th career victory, and that milestone is bound to provide extra incentive for the Hornets.

PONY Bowl Notes

. . Former Ram defensive end Fred Dryer, who played for Swearingen at El Camino in 1965 and 1966, is the honorary game chairman for the PONY Bowl. . . . Tailback John Green needs only 80 yards today to become the top single-season rusher in Fullerton history. . . . . . . Saddleback hasn’t played since Nov. 14 when it defeated Rancho Santiago, 39-32. The three-week layoff has given several injured Gauchos, such as defensive back Allan Roman, time to heal. Roman, who had been suffering from a cracked clavicle, is expected to start today. . . . . . . Game officials are hoping for a crowd of between 6,000 and 8,000.