Saddleback Rallies in Second Half, Edges Tustin

Thanks to a strong passing game, Saddleback High School rallied from a seven-point first-half deficit to defeat Tustin, 14-7, before 1,300 at Santa Ana Stadium Friday night.

“I was scared to death at halftime,” Saddleback Coach Jerry Witte said. “I said (to the team), ‘We’re going to open this up and throw,’ and we did.”

Tustin (3-3 overall, 0-1 in Sea View League play) scored in the second quarter on a five-yard run by Visko Ancich, but was then shut down by Saddleback’s defense.

Roger Morris’ interception blunted a second-quarter Tustin drive and enabled the Roadrunners (3-3, 1-0) to go off the field with only a 7-0 deficit.

“That interception was the whole key,” Witte said.

Saddleback’s offense, held to 42 yards in the first half, got untracked in the third quarter when Paul Delgado teamed with Robert Reyes for a 60-yard pass play. That set up a three-yard touchdown by Keith Gober. Alex Rico’s conversion tied the score, 7-7.

Late in the fourth quarter, Saddleback marched 75 yards for its winning score with J.J. Fejeran going the final six yards.