Community College Football : Saddleback Gets a Back-to-Basics Victory : Return of Huddle and Rushing Game Helps Defeat Southwestern

Saddleback College returned to the basics--the huddle and the running game--and defeated Southwestern, 48-31, in Mission Conference action Saturday night on Saddleback Field at Mission Viejo.

Saddleback had lost two straight and had scored only 19 points in the two games.

After using the no-huddle offense that Saddleback started last season for one series, the Gauchos (3-2, 4-2) huddled the rest of the game and established the run.

Led by sophomore running backs Roger Fickling (73 yards in 13 carries) and John Jungkeit (63 yards in 5 carries), the Gauchos rushed for 268 yards.

Once the run was in the minds of the Apache defense, quarterback Pat Hegarty was afforded plenty of time to throw. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 274 yards and 3 touchdowns--all to sophomore wide receiver Bret Mersola.

Mersola, the country’s leading receiver with 58 catches, caught 10 passes for 187 yards.

He had scoring receptions of 13 and 28 yards in the fourth quarter. The third came with 8:12 left and gave Saddleback a 48-23 lead.

Saddleback took advantage of three turnovers to take a 27-17 first-half lead.

After Brad Schmidt recovered a fumble, the Gauchos drove 64 yards in 5 plays and Quincy Frank scored on a one-yard dive with 5:41 left for a 7-0 lead.

After the Apaches (4-1, 4-2) fumbled the following kickoff, quarterback Pat Hegarty found Mersola for a 28-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead.

Alex Ohmann intercepted Southwestern quarterback Brad Platt on the Apache 46. The Gauchos scored on fourth and goal from the two-yard line. Hegarty pitched to wide receiver Jeff Bielman, who threw back to Hegarty for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead.

Saddleback scored again on a three-yard run by Frank and led, 27-10, with 3:14 left in the half.

The Apaches scored with 23 seconds left in the half on a 48-yard pass from Platt to wide receiver John Bankhead to cut the lead to 27-17.

Platt had thrown a 42-yard touchdown pass to running back Danny Homes with 2:29 left in the first quarter to make it, 21-7.

Platt, who had tied the school record for completions twice this season with 21, tied the mark in the first half, when he was 21 of 35 for 261 yards. He finished 31 of 55 for 382 yards and the school record.

SADDLEBACK 48, SOUTHWESTERN 31 SB--Frank 1 run (kick failed)

SB--Mersola 28 pass from Hegarty (Bielman run)

SW--Holmes 42 pass from Platt (Ackerson kick)

SB--Hegarty 2 pass from Bielman (Roberson kick)

SW--FG Ackerson 48

SB--Frank 3 run (kick failed)

SW--Bankhead 48 pass from Platt (Ackerson kick)

SB--Jungkeit 4 run (Williams kick)

SB--Mersola 13 pass from Hegarty (Williams kick)

SW--Holmes 4 run (pass failed)

SB--Mersola 28 pass from Hegarty (Williams kick)

SW--Platt 1 run (Love pass from Platt)

Attendance--2,000