Saddleback Faces Ocean View Threat

Saddleback High School plays host to Ocean View and its talented quarterback, Randy Karliner, in the nonleague opener at 7:30 tonight in Santa Ana Stadium.

Karliner is a six-foot, 208-pound junior who passed for 1,072 yards and rushed for nine touchdowns as a sophomore. Ocean View averaged 12.3 points per game last year but showed considerable improvement in the final three games, when it scored 57 points.

Ocean View will make its debut under Coach Howard Isom, who replaced Guy Carrozzo last spring. Carrozzo resigned to accept a similar position at Lake Elsinore.

Saddleback will counter with an inexperienced quarterback, Paul Delgado, who is considered the school’s quickest quarterback since Sean Therien. Delgado will have a young offensive line that has been elevated from last year’s sophomore team that finished 9-1.

Among the top players returning for Saddleback include strong safety David Morris, wide receiver Juan Acuna and tailback Tony Colthirst.

Traditionally, Saddleback plays a difficult nonleague schedule, and among this year’s five opponents are Santa Ana, El Rancho and Serra, all of whom advanced to at least the second round of postseason play in 1988.

In other nonleague games, Orange Lutheran hosts Pater Noster at 2 p.m. and Santiago meets Laguna Hills at Mission Viejo at 7:30.