PONY Bowl : Saddleback Falls to El Camino, 49-22

Aaron Craver rushed for a record 4 touchdowns to lead El Camino College past Saddleback, 49-22, Saturday night in the second game of the PONY Bowl doubleheader at Orange Coast College.

Craver, who was named the game’s most valuable player, scored twice in the first half as the Warriors (9-1-1) built a 14-7 halftime lead. His second-half touchdowns helped to put the game out of reach.

Craver broke the PONY Bowl rushing touchdown mark of 2, which was shared by Fred Crissinger of Fullerton in 1982 and Cerritos’ Jerrell Waddell in 1987. Craver gained 104 yards in 21 carries.

El Camino’s 49 points were also a record, breaking the PONY Bowl mark of 38 set by Fullerton--also against Saddleback--in 1982. The 71 points by both teams shattered the record of 45 established in Saddleback’s 32-13 victory over Fullerton in 1985.

Quarterback Frank Dolce also played a major role in El Camino’s attack, completing 23 of 35 passes for 271 yards and 1 touchdown.

Saddleback’s Scott Miller got in on the record-setting, too. His 10 catches for 110 yards broke the PONY Bowl pass reception record of 9 shared by Glendale’s Rocky Palamara in 1986 and Cerritos’ Sean Willis in 1987.

Gaucho quarterback Scott Stark rushed for 1 touchdown and completed 22 of 46 passes for 205 yards and 1 touchdown. He also was intercepted 3 times, one of which was returned 42 yards for touchdown by Anthony Anetema in the fourth quarter.

Saddleback (8-3) also received offensive help from Aly Diaz, who rushed for 105 yards and 1 touchdown in 20 carries.

El Camino took a 7-0 lead with 5 minutes gone in the first quarter when Craver swept past Saddleback defensive back Robby Smith on his way to 10-yard touchdown. Craver’s score culminated a 73-yard, 10-play drive that saw Craver contribute a 20-yard run that took the ball to the Gaucho 39.

The Warriors extended their lead to 14-0 with 45 seconds left in the first quarter on a Craver 4-yard run.

The score came 2 plays after Saddleback’s Chris Dickerson was tackled for a 16-yard loss on a fourth-down play at the Saddleback 47. He caught a Stark pass from punt formation, but El Camino’s defenders weren’t fooled.

On the ensuing play, El Camino’s Brian Connors carried the ball 43 yards to the Gaucho 4.

Saddleback cut the Warriors’ lead to 14-7 on Stark’s 1-yard run. The touchdown climaxed a 76-yard drive which was aided by 2 pass interference penalties and a 23-yard pass from Stark to Scott Miller.