COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Winning Ways Have Returned to Saddleback

The Saddleback football program, nearly a complete wreck two seasons ago, enters tonight’s regular-season finale racing toward a championship.

The Gauchos finish at home with a 7 p.m. Mission Conference Central Division game against Rancho Santiago. A victory would give Saddleback (8-1, 4-0 in the division) the outright divisional title.

A Saddleback loss and a Fullerton victory over Riverside would leave the teams with identical records, but Saddleback defeated Fullerton this season.

Because of that, Saddleback is expected to play in the Simple Green Orange County Bowl on Dec. 7 against Cerritos. Bowl bids officially will be extended Sunday.

Win or lose tonight, Saddleback has completed an impressive two-year turnaround.

In 1989, Saddleback, usually one of the most dominating programs in Southern California, fell to 1-9. This came after Saddleback had won nine consecutive divisional titles from 1977-85. Saddleback also won the mythical J.C. Grid-Wire title in 1985.

Saddleback also won the Central Division in 1987, and was second in 1988.

But in 1989, things went wrong in a big way. The Gauchos improved to 6-4 last season.

And now, Saddleback has wrapped up at least a tie for the championship.

“We are very pleased with the turnaround,” Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen said. “It has taken a lot of hard work from the coaches and the players.”

In tonight’s Mission Conference Central Division football games:

Golden West (5-4, 1-3) at Orange Coast (6-3, 1-3), 7 p.m.--A victory by OCC would help the Pirates’ bowl chances; a loss would end them. OCC was the top-ranked team in Southern California after the fifth week of the season and seemed a strong bet for a second consecutive postseason appearance. But the Pirates then lost three in a row, finally rebounding last Saturday with a 51-0 victory over Riverside.

Defensive end Joe Hay continues to lead Golden West in tackles (80) and sacks (7 1/2). Frank Marvitz, also a defensive end, is second in sacks with 5 1/2.

Golden West leads the series, 13-10-2.

Rancho Santiago (2-7, 1-3) at Saddleback (8-1, 4-0), 7 p.m.--Rancho Santiago quarterback Rich Fanti left the Fullerton game in the third quarter last week with bruised ribs, but is expected to play. He will be playing against his cousin, Rob, a wide receiver for Saddleback.

Rancho Santiago has had a difficult season, primarily because of injuries that have left the defense struggling since the third week.

Saddleback is averaging 34 points per game and giving up only 15. The Gauchos have won six in a row since losing to Southwestern, 43-32.

Riverside (3-6, 2-2) at Fullerton (7-2, 3-1), 7 p.m.--A victory would make Fullerton one of the most desirable teams a bowl committee could ask for. The Hornets have the winningest coach in the history of community college football in Hal Sherbeck. Sherbeck, in his 31st season, is 240-70-8. Plus, Fullerton, No. 15 in the J.C. Grid-Wire ranking, has one of the best followings of any community college team in Southern California.

Riverside stumbled harshly in a 51-0 defeat to Orange Coast, but always plays Fullerton tough, as was the case last year. Fullerton was 7-2 and on the verge of a bowl berth going into the final game, but Riverside ended such hopes with a 29-14 victory. Sherbeck will be sure to remind his team of that.

Fullerton running back Brian Williams is back after missing parts of three games because of an ankle injury. Williams, a sophomore, has run for 1,606 yards in his career, fourth on the all-time list at Fullerton.