COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Carter Leads the Way for Saddleback

Reggie Carter, banished from the Saddleback lineup because of fumbles earlier this season, took advantage of a second chance Saturday.

He scored on an 89-yard kickoff return and a 16-yard run to help Saddleback to a 21-11 victory over Golden West in Mission Conference Central Division game at Orange Coast.

The victory broke a two-game losing streak for Saddleback (3-3, 1-1 in the division). Carter fumbled three times, all of which led to touchdowns, as Mt. San Antonio beat Saddleback, 40-12, two weeks ago. He didn’t have a carry in the Gauchos’ 17-13 loss to Riverside last Saturday.

Carter managed to give Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen a few tense moments late in the game when he fumbled and Golden West’s Van Tuinei recovered at the Saddleback 42 with 2 minutes 38 seconds to play.

But Golden West failed to get a first down and turned it over on downs with 1:52 left. From there, Saddleback ran out the clock.

Saddleback led, 6-3, at the half and Carter took the second-half kickoff up the middle, then cut to the right and into the end zone for an 89-yard touchdown. Josh Ireland completed the two-point conversion pass to Mike Fouts and Saddleback led, 14-3. Golden West (3-3, 1-1) scored five minutes later on a one-yard run by Vance Senteno. He also ran in the conversion to cut the lead to 14-11 with 9:51 left.

Carter capped the scoring with a 16-yard run up the middle with 5:30 left. He led all rushers with 86 yards in 17 carries.

Golden West missed its best chance to rally midway in the fourth quarter. The Rustlers had possession for 19 plays over 9:12, but Mark Wersching missed a 32-yard field-goal attempt after Golden West’s touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty.

In other games in the Mission Conference:

Orange Coast 37, Grossmont 20--Jeff Clayton rushed for 195 yards in 18 carries and scored two touchdowns for visiting Orange Coast (4-2), which won for the fourth consecutive time. Clayton has scored seven touchdowns in the last three games.

Orange Coast’s Keve Love returned a pass 56 yards for a touchdown. Grossmont drops to 2-4.

Riverside 56, Rancho Santiago 30--Visiting Rancho Santiago (1-4-1, 0-2) lost for the fourth consecutive time. Anthony Richardson had 106 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns for Riverside (2-4, 2-0), which has won two in a row. Rancho Santiago’s Gabe Garica was 14 of 29 for 286 yards and three touchdowns.