Relentless Saddleback Rolls On, 38-14

Nothing seems to change much for the Saddleback College football team these days.

The Gauchos used their normally relentless defense and driving offense to stop Golden West, 38-14, Saturday in front of about 3,000 at Orange Coast College in a Mission Conference Central Division game.

The victory give Saddleback (8-1, 4-0) at least a tie for the division title. Saddleback has already beaten second-place Fullerton (7-2, 3-1) this season.

The victory also makes Saddleback, which is ranked seventh nationally by J.C. Grid-Wire, a lock for an invitation to the Dec. 7 Orange County Simple Green Bowl at OCC.

“This is a big win for us,” Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen said. “We are now in prime position. We’re sitting pretty good right now.”

Saddleback finished with 456 yards in total offense Saturday, including 271 yards passing from quarterback Tim Snowden, who completed 16 of 27 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Saddleback’s defense allowed Golden West 211 yards in total offense, and limited the Rustlers to 27 yards rushing in 29 tries.

Saddleback opened a 17-0 lead by the end of first quarter and led, 17-7, at halftime.

The play that was most demoralizing for Golden West came in the third quarter.

The Rustlers (5-4, 1-3) had Saddleback in trouble with a second and 27 at the Golden West 47. Saddleback used a safe call--a screen pass over the middle--but Marcellus Chrishon’s determination turned it into a touchdown. He broke past a group of tacklers to get into the open, then raced the rest of the way for the score and a 24-7 Saddleback lead.

Saddleback added touchdown runs of six yards by Marwan Saba and 32 yards by Matt Carvalho in the fourth quarter.

Saddleback’s first score of the game came after Golden West’s Jacob Kulikoff fumbled after catching a pass on the first play from scrimmage. Saddleback’s Beau LeBreton recovered at the Golden West 30, and seven plays later, Doug Roberson kicked a 21-yard field goal.

Chrishon scored on a four-yard run with 5:03 left in the quarter and Carvalho scored on a one-yard run with 11 seconds left in the quarter.

The Carvalho score was set up by a 40-yard pass from Snowden to Dan Zamora.

Golden West’s first score came midway through the second quarter on a 37-yard pass from quarterback John Shipp to Kulikoff.

Golden West’s Rich Weaver completed a nine-yard scoring pass to Vince Otteman with no time left in the game.