FOOTBALL ’93 / THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES : 1992 in Review

Saddleback dominated the 1992 season from start to finish.

The Gauchos began the season as the top-ranked team in the J.C. Grid-Wire’s national poll and ended in the same place. Saddleback is the only team to be ranked No. 1 an entire season by the grid-wire.

Saddleback won the national title with a 24-12 victory over City College of San Francisco in the Orange County Simple Green Bowl. The teams were 10-0 in the regular season.

Saddleback had mowed through a challenging Mission Conference schedule with little trouble thanks to running back Marcellus Chrishon and one of the best defenses in Orange County college football.

Saddleback outscored opponents 383-116, including 115-0 in the third quarter.

Chrishon, the offensive player of the year in California, led the nation in rushing (1,864 yards) and touchdowns (26).

Quarterback Tim Snowden finished his two-year career at 21-1. He also set Saddleback career mark for yards passing with 4,251.

Jeff Pease, a sophomore linebacker, topped the Gauchos with 122 tackles and was selected the state’s defensive player of the year.

Jeremy Brion helped complete the defensive puzzle by transferring from Cal a few weeks before the season started. He tied for the state lead with nine interceptions.

Orange Coast ended the regular season with a 7-3 record, earning a berth in the K-Swiss Bowl against Los Angeles Harbor. But the Pirates lost that game, 9-3.

Eric Washington, OCC’s talented running back, rushed for 1,194 yards and finished his community college career with 1,773 yards. That’s the second-best total in OCC history.

There were fewer highlights for Golden West (4-6), Rancho Santiago (3-7) and Fullerton (1-9).

The individual highlight for Golden West was the performance of Frank Marvitz, who set the college’s single-season record for sacks with 15.

Rancho Santiago’s high point was a 29-28 victory over Fullerton. The Dons rallied from a 28-point deficit in the final quarter. Fullerton’s only victory was over Riverside, 16-7.