TONIGHT’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Defense Has Kept Unbeaten Saddleback on Top of Its World

Saddleback started the season as the top-ranked team in the J.C. Grid-Wire national poll.

Seven games later, the Gauchos (7-0, 2-0 in the conference) are still there largely because of the defense’s consistent play. Saddleback comes into tonight’s 7 o’clock Mission Conference Central Division game at Orange Coast with the No. 1 defense in the 15-team conference.

The Gauchos are allowing 248 yards per game, but more importantly, only 10 points per game.

“Our defense has been surprising,” Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen said. “We played really well as a unit last year and this year we said that we had better talent, we were just young. But it has all come together.”

The unit is led by a pair of sophomore transfers from Division I programs--middle linebacker Jeff Pease and free safety Jeremy Brion. Pease was a redshirt at USC before becoming a part-time starter at Saddleback last season. This season, he leads the Gauchos with 67 tackles.

Saddleback’s secondary got a boost when Brion, a sophomore, decided to leave California and play at Saddleback in August. He has six interceptions and is tied for the state lead.

Scott von der Ahe, a linebacker from Mission Viejo High School, has been the most impressive among the freshmen. He is second in tackles with 59 and leads in sacks with seven. Brent Longnecker, a sophomore defensive lineman, is second in sacks with 5 1/2.

Saddleback has been especially strong against the run, allowing only 55 yards per game. The Gauchos are giving up 193 yards per game passing, but opponents often are trailing early and have to to pass in an effort to catch up.

Orange Coast (5-2, 2-0) is considered to have the best chance of Saddleback’s final three regular-season opponents to derail the Gauchos. After OCC, Saddleback plays at Riverside (1-5-1) and at home against Golden West (2-5).

“This is it, the championship game,” Swearingen said. “Of course, we like to say we have three championship games left but this one is the most important.”

OCC also has a strong defense led by three sophomore linebackers. Dwight Chornomud has 100 tackles and Craig Reynolds (67) and Dan Petrone (63) are second and third on the team.

Noa Pua, a defensive end who has impressive quickness, leads the team with four sacks. He has deflected six passes as well.

OCC is allowing 322 yards per game, but only 16.6 points, third best in the conference.

“We’ve have had several different defenses show up this season,” OCC Coach Bill Workman said. “Nobody else has matched up with (Saddleback) so we’ll see how we do.”

Saddleback, led by tailback Marcellus Chrishon, offers the most difficult challenge of the year to the Pirate defense. Chrishon has rushed for 1,304 yards and scored 19 touchdowns in seven games.

Tim Snowden, the Saddleback quarterback, has been overlooked because of Chrishon’s exploits, but is also having a strong season. He is 81 of 142 for 1,457 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has been intercepted only three times.

Last season against OCC, he was intercepted five times in the first half but Saddleback rallied to win, 22-21.

In another Mission Conference Central Division game at 7 p.m.:

Riverside (1-5-1, 1-1) vs. Rancho Santiago (1-6, 0-2) at Santa Ana Stadium--Rancho Santiago started the season with a 10-7 victory over San Diego Mesa but has lost six in a row since. But Riverside is one of the few light opponents on the Dons’ difficult schedule. Rancho Santiago’s first seven opponents are 40-11.