SEA VIEW LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Saddleback Ends Slide, Stuns Tustin

Saddleback entered Thursday’s game against Tustin with a four-game losing streak. It was a team that had nothing to lose.

Tustin came in hoping to take the next step on its way to a playoff berth. The Tillers couldn’t afford a loss, because its next four opponents have a combined 16-4 record.

But the team that had everything to lose lost its poise and Saddleback shocked the Tillers, 21-20, at Santa Ana Stadium in front of a homecoming crowd of 1,500.

It was not a pretty sight. The two teams combined for 248 yards in penalties. But it was Tustin (3-3, 1-2), needing to win or likely kiss its playoff hopes goodby, that blew its cool.

“The game started to deteriorate with the penalties but we kept our poise,” Saddleback Coach Jerry Witte said. “They got some major penalties and fortunately, we made fewer stupid penalties.”

It climaxed with 7 minutes 11 seconds remaining in the game. After scoring on a six-yard pass from Daniel Ruvolo to Paul Linares, and trailing 20-19, the Roadrunners (2-4, 1-2)went for the two-point conversion. Ruvolo pitched the ball to Danny Gonzalez, and under the threat of being pummeled, he passed the ball to Aaron Pulsifer. It completed a comeback from a 13-point deficit with 5:50 left in the third quarter.

Ruvolo’s touchdown pass was set up after Craig Nosse picked up a fumble and returned it nine yards to the Tustin 42. Saddleback got an additional 15 yards because of a personal foul after the play.

The Tillers were penalized 17 times for 178 yards, including seven times for major fouls. Two of Saddleback’s three scoring drives were helped by personal-foul calls, including a drive late in the first half during which 30 yards in penalties were assessed at the end of a 21-yard run by Mel Lete. It led to an 18-yard scoring pass from Ruvolo to Matt Lete, and Sam Perla’s extra point.

Mel Lete rushed eight times for 121 yards. He rushed for 58 of Saddleback’s 73 yards on its second scoring drive. Ruvolo scored from one yard, but the extra point was blocked.

There were two key defensive stands by the Roadrunners. They forced Tustin to settle for a 23-yard field goal after reaching the six-yard line in the third quarter, and there was a missed field goal after the Tillers reached the 12.