Saddleback Upsets Orange, 35-13

Saddleback High School’s football players, ridiculously happy over the prospects of an upset victory over Orange Friday night, began counting down the game’s final seconds.

Nothing unusual there. Only their timing was off. Fully 45 seconds remained when the Roadrunners began their countdown.

When the scoreboard clock flashed zeros, a roar rose up from the Saddleback fans among the 1,200 in Santa Ana Stadium. The key numbers were these: Saddleback 35, Orange 13.

“The kids really needed it,” Saddleback Coach Jerry Witte said. “We lost a heartbreaker (14-13 to Ocean View) last week. It was an important game for us. I didn’t know if our kids could play with (Orange).”

A 29-point second half turned a taut, hard-hitting game into a rout for Saddleback.

Orange led, 13-6, at halftime and seemed ready to get its rushing game cranked up. It never happened, though, as Saddleback’s defense contained Acen Chiles and Brian Remmel, Orange running backs.

Chiles had 40 yards in 13 carries, Remmel rushed for 38 yards in 10 carries. Neither was able to break free for sizable gains, particularly in the second half when Saddleback took control.

Moreover, Saddleback’s secondary bamboozled Orange quarterback Josh Belovsky into throwing three interceptions in the second half, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

Belovsky connected on five for six passes for 107 yards and touchdowns of three and 43 yards in the first half. But in the second half, reserve Kimiko Bandy picked off a Belovsky pass at the Orange 21 and outraced the quarterback to the end zone.

Suddenly, the listless feeling that prevailed on the Saddleback sideline lifted and, after Joe De La Fuente’s diving catch for a two-point conversion, the Roadrunners led, 14-13.

The rest was a nightmare for Orange (1-1). The defending Division VIII runner-up had little go right.

Saddleback quarterback Paul Delgado, whose first half was miserable at best, hit Robert Reyes on a 40-yard touchdown pass play with 11:01 left.

Hernan De Santos scored on an 18-yard run with 3:11 left. A moment later, he picked off a Belovsky pass in full stride and returned it 45 yards for another touchdown and the Roadrunners (1-1) began celebrating.

Belovsky finished nine for 15 with 130 yards to Delgado’s four for 13 for 95 yards.

De Santos gained 106 yards in 15 carries and Mike Castro had 109 yards in 17 carries as Saddleback, not Orange, dominated the ground.