Defense Gives Saddleback a Boost : Football: Von der Ahe has key sack and Brion makes two fourth-quarter interceptions as Gauchos beat El Camino, 35-17.

Saddleback College got the big plays from the usual folks on offense Saturday, but it was the defense that really stepped up in a 35-17 victory over El Camino in a Mission Conference game at El Camino.

Marcellus Chrishon, a preseason all-American, rushed for 187 yards in 35 carries and two touchdowns for Saddleback (4-0), which is the top-ranked team in the nation by the J.C. Grid-Wire. It was the 12th consecutive victory for Saddleback dating to last season. El Camino (2-1) was sixth in the same publication.

But the defense took top-billing for the Gauchos.

Linebacker Scott von der Ahe had a key sack and defensive back Jeremy Brion had a two fourth-quarter interceptions, the second of which he returned for a touchdown. Defensive end Brent Longnecker added two sacks as well.

Trailing 21-17, El Camino had a first and goal at the Saddleback four with about seven minutes left in the game. After a running play lost two yards, von der Ahe sacked El Camino quarterback Jerry Singleton for a 10-yard loss.

“I just came off the block and got him,” von der Ahe said. “ . . . This game finally put the defense on the map.”

Singleton completed a seven-yard pass on third down and El Camino lined up for a 33-yard field-goal attempt on fourth down. The snap was low and Saddleback took over on downs.

Brion’s first interception came off a tipped ball and he returned it 18 yards to the El Camino 32. Chrishon then ran 13 yards to the 19. He went around left end for 19 yards on the next play and Saddleback led, 28-17, with 3:53 left.

Less than a minute later, Brion intercepted another pass and went 52 yards for a touchdown.

“The first one I really wanted to return (for a touchdown), but there were too many people in the way,” he said. “On the second one, I wasn’t going to be stopped. I really needed it.”

Saddleback trailed, 17-14, at the half but scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 43-yard pass from from quarterback Tim Snowden to wide receiver Dan Zamora with 9:32 left in the quarter.

In the first half, El Camino took its first lead thanks to a turnover. El Camino defensive back Dimitrius Boykins blitzed, knocking the ball away from Snowden as he was bringing it up to throw. Boykins then recovered at the Saddleback 33. Three plays later, Tom Dallen kicked a 47-yard field goal and El Camino led, 10-7. It was the first time in four games this season that Saddleback has been behind.

But the Gauchos came right back and took the lead. Saddleback had a fourth and one at the El Camino 21. Snowden faked a handoff to Chrishon and threw to Zamora, who was open in the flat and he turned it up field for the score.

El Camino took the lead, 17-14, when Ivan Wilson scored on an 11-yard run with 6:08 left in the half.

“At the half,” Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen said, “they acted like we had lost. But I told them we still had another half to play and we played much better, especially the defense. This was a big victory against a good football team.”