COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Defense Helps Rancho Santiago Stay Unbeaten

Although it got pushed around a bit, Rancho Santiago College’s defense responded in the clutch to help the Dons to a 35-14 victory over Cerritos Saturday in a Mission Conference game in front of about 1,500 at Santa Ana Stadium.

The unbeaten Dons led, 14-7, midway in the third quarter when Rancho Santiago linebacker Fred Soares intercepted a pass and raced 26 yards for a touchdown.

After the score, Cerritos fumbled on its second play and Rancho Santiago defensive back Scott McMahon recovered. The Dons then went 50 yards in 11 plays, scoring on a 11-yard pass from quarterback Scott Wood to running back Paul Maund. Rancho Santiago then led, 28-7.

Cerritos cut the lead to 28-14, but the Rancho Santiago defense stopped two subsequent Falcon drives, the second on an interception by McMahon.

In the game, Rancho Santiago recovered two fumbles and had three interceptions. Mike Moore also had an interception for Rancho Santiago (5-0 overall and 4-0 in Mission Conference play).

Rancho Santiago is ranked second the Southland Poll and sixth in the J.C. Grid-Wire national poll.

“The defense has been doing super,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dave Ogas said. “But all the kids have really been doing well. We’ve rallied together with a great deal of confidence in the last few week.”

Rancho Santiago had 480 yards in total offense, including 258 by quarterback Wood. He was 16 of 26 with three touchdowns and one interception. Estrus Crayton rushed for 166 yards in 29 carries and also scored three touchdowns.

Crayton scored Rancho Santiago’s first touchdown on a 10-yard run in the first quarter. He broke a 7-7 tie with a 27-scoring run in the second quarter and scored the Dons’ last touchdown on a two-yard run with 4:01 left.

Cerritos (2-3-1, 1-3) had 314 yards in total offense, including 159 from running back Tyrone Vickers. Vickers had a 78-yard touchdown run on Cerritos’ first play from scrimmage.

Rancho Santiago plays at Riverside (also 5-0) next Saturday in the Mission Conference Central Division opener.

--STEVE KRESAL

In other Mission Conference games:

Fullerton 30, Grossmont 17--Kicker Eric Lang had three field goals, one a school-record 55-yarder, to lead visiting Fullerton. Rick Frank set the old mark of 52 yards in 1984.

Fullerton, 3-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play, also was led by running back Jeff Andrews, who had 134 yards rushing on 18 carries and two touchdowns. Andrews moved to within 19 yards of the career-yardage record at Fullerton, increasing his total to 2,018 yards. Grossmont is 1-4, 1-3.

Golden West 24, Palomar 14--Sean Cheatham rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns to pace Golden West (3-2, 3-1) at Orange Coast. Cheatham also completed his only pass for a 39-yard gain. He scored on runs of 34 and two yards.

Bobby Sylvia intercepted a pass and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to give Golden West a 14-0 lead. Palomar quarterback Scott Barrick was 29 of 59 for 300 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Palomar is 1-4, 1-3.

Pasadena 24, Saddleback 20--Saddleback took the lead, 20-17, with 4:44 left on a 38-yard scoring run by John Burns. But Pasadena came back to win on 10-yard pass from Jay Walker to Derrick Howard with with 53 seconds left.

Burns had 138 yards in 18 carries and scored three touchdowns.

Saddleback dropped is 1-4, 1-3. Pasadena is 4-1, 3-1.

Saddleback reserve quarterback Jeff Bailey replaced John Barnes with 7:04 left in the second quarter and was 14 of 28 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown thereafter.