Community College Football : Saddleback and OCC Bid for Championship

There is something at stake beyond the outcome of the games involving Orange County community college football teams tonight.

Orange Coast (8-1 overall and 7-1 in conference) and Saddleback (7-2, 7-1) are both in contention for at least a share of the Mission Conference championship. Although OCC defeated Saddleback, 42-38, in October, the teams will be declared co-champions under conference rules if both win tonight.

Saddleback is expected to have the tougher of the two games as the Gauchos play Rancho Santiago (4-5, 3-5) in Santa Ana Stadium. OCC is at Citrus (2-7, 2-5).

Meanwhile, Golden West figured that its season would be over after tonight’s game against El Camino, which clinched the South Coast Conference title with a victory over Pasadena last Saturday. But since Orange Coast turned down an invitation to play in the two-game PONY Bowl, Golden West’s finale takes on added significance.

If Golden West (5-3-1, 4-1-1) defeats El Camino (9-0, 6-0), the top-ranked team in Southern California, it will become the top choice to play Saddleback in the PONY Bowl’s first game at 1 p.m. on Dec. 5 in LeBard Stadium. El Camino will play Taft, the top-ranked team in the state and nation, in the second game at 7 p.m.

A look at the Mission Conference games:

Orange Coast (8-1, 7-1) at Citrus (2-7, 2-7), 7:30 p.m.--This will be the final show from one of the best offensive threesomes to play in Orange County on the same community college team.

Wide receiver Junior Tagaloa already has caught a conference- and Orange County-record 16 touchdown passes this season. He leads the conference with 58 catches for 1,107 yards, despite facing double coverage most of the time.

Quarterback Keith Jarrett has thrown for a school-record 23 touchdowns and is third in the conference in passing yardage with 2,146. Jarrett (150 for 252) also has the top completion percentage (59.5) in the conference.

The final member of the threesome is Bart Recktenwald, the conference’s top rusher with 1,230 yards in 209 carries. Recktenwald also has caught 34 passes for 336 yards, scored 16 touchdowns and has set a national record for all-purpose yardage in a single season (2,410).

Saddleback (7-2, 7-1) vs. Rancho Santiago (4-5, 3-5) at Santa Ana Stadium, 7:30--Saddleback has won six straight behind a defense that leads the conference in points allowed (18.8). Overall, the Gauchos rank third in the conference in defense, allowing 317 yards a game. Derick Hale, David Carroll and Ennis Finley have three interceptions each, and Saddleback is tied for the conference lead with Riverside with 17 interceptions.

Rancho Santiago is led by quarterback Rick Burns, who has completed 151 of 267 passes for 1,960 yards and 14 touchdowns, and running back Glenn Campbell, who has rushed for 600 yards in 140 carries.

In the South Coast Conference:

Golden West (5-3-1, 4-1-1) at El Camino (9-0, 6-0)--Golden West’s offense is back to full strength with running back Blaise Bryant (653 yards in 113 carries) and wide receiver Mike Crowley (24 catches for 368 yards) both fully recovered from ankle injuries suffered in the fourth game of the season.

Quarterback Bill Marler has struggled at times this season, throwing 15 interceptions, but he completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Andre Shourds with no time remaining to defeat Cerritos, 10-7, last Saturday, keeping Golden West’s PONY Bowl hopes alive.

El Camino may be undefeated, but the Warriors have struggled lately, winning their last five games by a total of 21 points. The biggest victory in the bunch was a 28-22 decision over Pasadena last Saturday.

Pasadena (6-3, 3-3) vs. Fullerton (4-3-2, 3-1-2) at Fullerton District Stadium, 7:30 p.m.--If Golden West and Cerritos lose, then Fullerton, with a victory, would be considered for the PONY Bowl. A Fullerton loss would drop the Hornets to 4-4-2, which would mark the first time since 1972 that Fullerton hasn’t finished with a winning record.

Fullerton running back Andrew Greer, who is the school’s career rushing leader, needs 8 yards to reach 1,000 this season.