COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Saddleback Is Defeated Again in Rout

The last hint of Saddleback’s recent glory days was harshly removed Saturday.

Saddleback’s 19-game home winning streak ended in a 40-12 drubbing by Mt. San Antonio in a Mission Conference game.

Saddleback won the J.C. Grid-Wire national title last season but saw its 20-game winning streak end in a 21-15 loss to Cerritos the second week of the season.

Saddleback (2-2) has lost more games this season than in the previous two. And San Antonio (5-0) seems headed toward the glory Saddleback recently achieved.

The Mounties are ranked second in the Southern California and fourth in the nation. They play host to Palomar (5-0), the top-ranked team in Southern California and No. 2 in the nation, Saturday.

Saddleback contributed greatly to its downfall. The Guachos’ Reggie Carter fumbled three times, all leading to touchdowns.

Mt. San Antonio led, 19-6, at the break, but Saddleback had the ball to start of the second half.

But Carter fumbled on the second play, and Mt. San Antonio recovered at the Saddleback 28.

Six plays later, Cody Smith completed a 14-yard screen pass to Brent Milili for a touchdown, giving the Mounties a 26-6 lead.

Carter’s struggles continued when he fumbled the following kickoff, and Mt. San Antonio took over at the Saddleback 30.

This time, it took three plays for Smith to find Steve McHenry for an eight-yard touchdown pass and a 33-6 lead with 11 minutes 40 seconds left in the third quarter.

Smith, a sophomore transfer from University of the Pacific, completed 24 of 39 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns.

In other Mission Conference games:

Fullerton 31, El Camino 30--Josh Nelson threw three touchdown passes, including a 65-yarder to Ryan Roskelly in the fourth quarter, as the host Hornets held on.

The decisive extra point came off the foot of Chris Prater, who also had a 24-yard field goal for the Hornets (2-2). El Camino (1-4) scored 14 points in the final 6:26 to make it close.

Orange Coast 37, San Diego Mesa 14--Jeff Clayton and quarterback Todd Mather each rushed for two touchdowns for host Orange Coast (2-2). Clayton had 134 yards in 21 carries and scored on runs of six and five yards. Mather, who scored on two three-yard runs, was 10 of 17 for 132 yards passing.

Garrick Emry rushed for 107 yards in 10 carries for OCC. The Pirate defense recorded 10 sacks and held San Diego Mesa (0-4) to minus 15 yards rushing.

Palomar 51, Rancho Santiago 38--Tom Luginbill completed 25 of 40 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns for host Palomar (5-0). Donnie Bladow rushed 10 times for 90 yards and caught touchdown passes of three and 31 yards from Gabe Garcia for Rancho Santiago (1-2-1).