Saddleback’s Sweet Revenge Is a Victory Over Corona del Mar

First place in the Sea View League might be all but locked up, but Friday night Saddleback High School cleared up a few things among the also-rans, defeating Corona del Mar, 17-0, at Santa Ana Stadium.

A week after the Roadrunners lost to Tustin, which at 3-0 in league play appears to be headed for the league title, Saddleback (4-4, 2-1 in the league), behind a staunch defense and two pounding running backs, overpowered the Sea Kings (4-3-1, 1-1-1) and moved into second place to become strong contenders for one of the two remaining playoff spots.

Saddleback Coach Jerry Witte said his team remembers the 17-14 loss to Corona del Mar last year that put the Sea Kings in the playoffs instead of the Roadrunners.

“Last year it cost us the playoffs,” Witte said. “This was the game we wanted to have.” Although seven starters who didn’t play against Tustin--including quarterback Paul Delgado and receiver Robert Reyes--returned to the Saddleback lineup, two running backs who have played in every game made the difference.

Mike Castro gained 141 yards in 23 carries and Hernan De Santos gained 85 yards in 13 carries. The pair gained 226 yards of their team’s 275 yards in total offense.

Castro scored Saddleback’s first touchdown on a two-yard run with less than a minute remaining in the first half. Castro’s touchdown capped a 46-yard drive in which he carried the ball four times for 32 yards and De Santos carried once for 14 yards.

Backup quarterback Luis Estrella led the drive, because Delgado had injured his ankle. On one nine-yard run on the drive, Castro broke five tackles.

Delgado returned to throw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Joe De La Fuente in the third quarter and Julio Orozco kicked a 21-yard field goal.

Corona del Mar’s offense never got untracked behind senior quarterback Chad Woolsey, who was substituting for Todd Kehrli. The junior seriously cut a finger on his throwing hand during a cookout last Saturday.

Woolsey completed his first four passes but finished six for 14 for 37 yards and an interception.