COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : One Down, One to Go for Saddleback

Saddleback won one prize Saturday night with a 24-6 victory over Riverside, but it wasn’t the only one the Gauchos are after this season.

With the victory, Saddleback (9-0, 4-0) clinched at least a tie for the Mission Conference Central Division title. The Gauchos, ranked No. 1 in the nation by the J.C. Grid-Wire, are assured of a bid to the Dec. 5 Simple Green Orange County Bowl, where they could achieve the real aim of the season--a national championship.

Once again, it was the Gaucho defense that dominated. But this time, the offense was mostly without its usual standout, running back Marcellus Chrishon, who had rushed for a nation-leading 1,519 yards coming in. Chrishon has been bothered by a sore shoulder and didn’t practice much during the week. He carried eight times for 43 yards in the first quarter and didn’t play after that.

“It got a little sore, so we pulled him out,” Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen said.

Riverside’s lone score came in the fourth quarter and cut the lead to 21-6. This was after the ninth consecutive third quarter in which a team failed to score against the Gauchos, who hold an 87-0 advantage in that period this season.

“It’s very important to us,” defensive back Beau LeBreton said of the scoreless string. “That’s a really big goal this season.”

LeBreton had an interception, two sacks and recovered a fumble.

Saddleback figured to take a 7-0 lead into halftime, but got a break for a late touchdown.

Riverside’s Dione Williams was stripped of the ball by Jeff Pease while returning a punt to his 12. The ball was knocked into the end zone during the scramble, and Saddleback’s Bernie Chapman fell on it for a touchdown. Devon Higgins’ extra point gave the Gauchos a 14-0 lead with 1:22 left in the half.

“It was just there and I picked it up,” Chapman said. “Everybody was diving but not for the ball. It was like, ‘Excuse me, Ref, I have the ball.’ ”

Riverside (1-7-1, 1-3) was deep in Saddleback territory twice during the first half, but was stopped by a turnover each time. LeBreton’s interception came in the end zone with 5:04 left in the half.

He had recovered a fumble caused by teammate Jeremy Brion at the Saddleback 14 with 5:16 left in the first half.

Saddleback took a 21-0 lead when Allan Perlas scored on a four-yard run with 10:47 to play in the third quarter.

The touchdown was set up when Saddleback quarterback Tim Snowden scrambled and then completed an 11-yard pass to tight end Ken Koppelman on third and five from the Riverside 14.

Rod Hobbs rushed for 68 yards in 12 carries, and Perlas added 41 yards in 11 carries in relief of Chrishon.

“Their all good backs,” Swearingen said. “So we said let the other guys play, that’s what they signed up for.”