COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Saddleback Gets Victory; Chrishon Gets School Record

Marcellus Chrishon scored three times and set a school record for career touchdowns in Saddleback College’s 49-7 victory over Rancho Santiago Saturday at the Santa Ana Bowl. It was Saddleback’s 13th consecutive victory.

Chrishon, who carried 17 times for 123 yards, scored on runs of two, one, and 29 yards. The former Mission Viejo High running back has 33 touchdowns in his two-year career at Saddleback.

“The record was not on my mind; individual stats come later. Right now I am thinking more or less team. Tonight I ran hard, and the linemen blocked well,” Chrishon said.

Said Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen: “Marcellus is a pretty good player, one of the best I have ever had.”

Rancho Santiago Coach Dave Ogas said, “Marcellus has great speed. He is a hard runner.”

Saddleback (5-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation by the J.C. Grid-Wire, played a solid game against Rancho Santiago (1-3).

The Gauchos, who held a 35-0 lead at halftime, outgained the Dons, 329 yards to 109, in total offense. For the game, Saddleback had 483 yards. Rancho Santiago finished with 223.

“Our defense played all right. It got stronger as the game progressed, and our offense moved the ball well,” Swearingen said.

Early in the game, Acen Chiles fumbled a punt, and Saddleback’s Chip Anderson recovered at the Dons’ 29. Three plays later, Chrishon scored from the two with 12:49 to play in the first quarter.

With 11:17 left in the second quarter, Rancho Santiago moved the ball to the Saddleback five, and then Brian Broadbent watched his 22-yard field goal go wide left.

Said Ogas: “We lost momentum after that early fumble and mistakes cost us on two drives. You can’t make mistakes against a good team.”