Saddleback’s Swearingen Will Try for Coaching Record

Saddleback College’s Ken Swearingen goes after a record victory and Fullerton’s Gene Murphy seeks his first community college victory when the football season opens this weekend.

Competition starts at 7 tonight, when Golden West plays host to El Camino at Orange Coast College.

The county’s four other teams play at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Saddleback, the J.C. Grid-Wire defending national champion, plays host to Santa Monica. Swearingen, in his 32nd year, needs one victory to become the winningest coach in community college history. He has a 241-68-6 record. Hal Sherbeck retired at Fullerton after the 1991 season with a 241-71-8 record.

Saddleback starts the season ranked 10th in the J.C. Grid-Wire’s first poll.

Orange Coast, which returns 13 starters including quarterback Todd Mather, is ranked 13th in the poll. The Pirates play host to No. 14 Mt. San Antonio.

Fullerton’s program was taken over last spring by Gene Murphy after he coached Cal State Fullerton for 13 seasons. The Hornets play at Long Beach.

Rancho Santiago and returning quarterback Gabe Garcia play at Cerritos.