TONIGHT’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Bladow Hopes to Score for Rancho Santiago

Donnie Bladow has all the right answers to play fullback.

He’s a team player who gets his satisfaction from the team’s accomplishments.

When he says, “I would just as soon make the block that allows a teammate to score a touchdown than score one myself,” he really means it.

Still, Bladow would like to score a touchdown for Rancho Santiago, which takes on El Camino at 7 tonight in a Mission Conference game at Santa Ana Stadium.

He came to the Dons’ program last season after being a three-year varsity player at Villa Park High. He shared time at fullback and gained 215 yards in 38 carries over 10 games.

Last season, he appeared to have accomplished his goal of scoring. He took a screen pass and rambled nearly 40 yards into the end zone.

But when he turned to look back, he saw a penalty flag several yards back.

“I looked at the referee,” Bladow said. “And said, ‘Please sir, tell me that isn’t against us.’ But he said that he was sorry, but it was.”

Bladow might not score this season, but there is little doubt he will have more chances than last season. Before the opener, Rancho Santiago coaches said Bladow would be a bigger part of the offense--and he was in the first game.

He gained 83 yards in 16 carries in the 28-28 tie with Cerritos on Sept. 11.

“He’s a kid we’ve got to get the ball to,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dave Ogas said. “He has proved that he can be really productive. We figure he needs the ball at least 15 times a game.”

The Dons then had a bye week, which allowed Bladow a chance to catch up with one of his brothers.

Gary Bladow, a former standout at defensive back for Rancho Santiago, is a senior at Northern Arizona and Donnie went to Flagstaff to watch him play last Saturday.

They had last played together at Villa Park, when Gary was a senior and Donnie was a sophomore. David Bladow is a former standout at UC Irvine who is pitching in the Royals’ minor league system.

The trio has always been competitive, but never so much that it became a problem.

“It’s good to have brothers to go talk to,” Donnie said. “I asked Gary just what to expect (at Rancho Santiago) and he was really helpful both in football and in academics because he has been through it before.”

In tonight’s 7 o’clock Mission Conference game:

El Camino (1-1) vs. Rancho Santiago (0-0-1), Santa Ana Stadium, 7 p.m.--The Dons came back to tie Cerritos, 28-28, two weeks ago and El Camino rallied to beat Orange Coast, 28-24, last week. Gabe Garcia, Rancho Santiago’s quarterback was 17 for 27 for 228 yards and two touchdowns against Cerritos. Rancho Santiago is one of three Orange County teams that gained forfeit victories over El Camino in 1992.

El Camino announced this week that it would have to give up eight victories because of an ineligible player. Fullerton, Orange Coast and the Dons were among the teams awarded victories.