ORANGE COUNTY BOWL : Chrishon, Defense Spark Saddleback

Marcellus Chrishon’s smile was as wide as some of the holes he ran through. Quarterback Tim Snowden had his usual smirk; linebacker Jeff Pease was crying.

The reason for the range of emotions was the same: Saddleback beat City College of San Francisco, 24-12, in the Simple Green Orange County Bowl in front of about 4,500 Saturday at Orange Coast College.

With the victory, Saddleback finishes 11-0 and wins the J.C. Grid-Wire national championship. The Gauchos started the year No. 1 in the rankings and remained there. San Francisco entered the game ranked fifth in the nation.

“It was a lot of pressure on a team being No. 1 all year,” Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen said. “The guys really withstood it well. This is great.” The victory was the 241st of Swearingen’s 31-year career, tying him with retired Fullerton Coach Hal Sherbeck for No. 1 on the all-time list. It was also Swearingen’s second national title; the Gauchos also won in 1985.

This game was like so many others this season for Saddleback.

The defense dominated, holding San Francisco to 278 yards, and the offense, keyed by Chrishon, took advantage of the opportunities. San Francisco entered the game with the state’s top offense, which averaged 530 yards in the regular season.

Saddleback intercepted four passes and recovered two fumbles. The emotional leader for Saddleback’s defense was Pease, who had dedicated the game to a close friend, Dr. Michael Trainor, who died a week ago. Trainor had worked with Pease to help him recover from a shoulder injury.

“He was supposed to be here for me today but instead his whole family came to support me,” Pease said with tears in his eyes. “I love them very much. I played for him, not just him but the rest of the guys (on the team). I love them all very much.”

The final fumble recovery was by linebacker Brian Spencer at the San Francisco 25 with 6 minutes 42 seconds left. Quarterback Eric Gray was being pressured and pitched behind him but no San Francisco player was there.

Saddleback led, 17-12, at the time. The lead grew to 24-12 when Chrishon, an All-American, went 19 yards around left end for a touchdown with 2:22 left.

Chrishon finished with a game-high 116 yards and three touchdowns in 26 carries. He also scored on runs of 35 and one yards.

“When I looked up on the outside, all I saw was green,” Chrishon said of his final scoring dash. “Then all of a sudden the scoreboard said ‘24’ and we were the national champs. This is great.”

Defensive back Jeremy Brion clinched the victory with an interception, his ninth this season, with 1:30 left. Brion had caused a fumble and then recovered it in the first half.

Saddleback led, 10-6, at the half and once again the Gauchos’ defense shut out an opponent in the third quarter. Saddleback outscored the opposition, 122-0, this season in third quarters.

Saddleback’s lead grew to 17-6 when Chrishon went 35 yards for touchdown off a delay up the middle. Fullback Dushaun Marks sealed off the outside linebacker, and Chrishon easily beat the safety to the end zone for the touchdown.

The score was set up when safety Beau LeBreton, who was named the game’s most valuable player, intercepted his second pass at the San Francisco 35. Chrishon’s touchdown came on the next play.

LeBreton’s first interception set up the Gauchos’ first touchdown. His 16-yard return gave Saddleback a first down at the San Francisco 20 with 11:20 left in the second quarter. Six plays later, Chrishon scored on a one-yard run to give Saddleback 10-0 lead.

“I used to play end (at Mission Viejo High School) and used to get sacks,” LeBreton said. “Now it turns from sacks to picks, I love it.”

Marcus Jenkins had the other interception in the first half for Saddleback.

San Francisco cut the lead to 17-12 when Gray threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Michael Fields with 12:56 left in the game. The Rams tried a two-point conversion but failed when receiver James Hundon stepped out of the back of the end zone as he caught the ball.

San Francisco’s defense shut down Saddleback on the next possession. The Rams missed a chance for a turnover when Snowden’s pass was nearly intercepted inside his 10. Snowden was being pressured and floated a short pass that San Francisco’s Jamie Melger had in his hands but dropped.

“I kind of saw Marcellus pop out,” Snowden said. “I tried to just dump it to him. The guy made a good play but it ended up being all right.

“We worked all year for this, it’s an unbelievable feeling,” Snowden said. “Our defense saved our butts again. When they gave us the ball and we needed to score, we did. It’s a team game, that’s what it’s all about.”