Division Leaders Warm Up for Showdown

The key today for Rancho Santiago and Fullerton, the co-leaders of the Mission Conference Central Division, is don’t get caught looking ahead.

The teams meet Nov. 12 at Cal State Fullerton in a game that could decide the division title and a berth in the Simple Green Orange County Bowl.

But for the matchup to remain important, the teams must win today. Both play teams that have been struggling all season.

In today’s Mission Conference Central Division games:

Fullerton (4-2-1, 3-0) at Orange Coast (1-6, 1-2), 1:30 p.m.--Fullerton leads the all-time series, 25-16-3, but Orange Coast has won three of the last four, including a 38-16 victory last season.

Fullerton’s defense appears to be improving each week. The Hornets are third overall in the conference, giving up 356 yards per game. Linebackers Chris Garza (36 solo tackles) and Jason Nevadomsky (32 solo tackles) lead the unit. Defensive back Peter Burton has 10 pass deflections. Punter Jim Wren is averaging a conference-best 40.9 yards.

Fullerton is coming off a 35-14 victory over Golden West that Coach Gene Murphy said is the best his team has played in his two seasons at Fullerton.

Orange Coast broke a six-game losing streak with a 42-38 victory over Southwestern last Saturday. Jeff Clayton, a sophomore running back, leads Orange County rushers with 803 yards. He also has 2,245 yards in his career and is the seventh player to gain more than 2,000 yards in Orange County community college history.

Southwestern (0-6-1, 0-3-1) vs. Rancho Santiago (6-1, 3-0), Santa Ana Stadium, 1:30 p.m.--Rancho Santiago has won six in a row and the players seem to be growing more confident each week. The Dons are ranked second in Southern California behind El Camino, which beat the Dons, 55-28, in the season-opener. Rancho Santiago is eighth in the J.C. Grid-Wire national rankings.

The Dons lean toward the run, averaging 239 yards per game. But quarterback Simon Fuentes has been impressive when called upon. He has completed 77 of 118 passes with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Ernie Wilson has rushed for 549 yards and seven touchdowns and Kevin Pola, a converted linebacker, has gained 357 yards and scored six touchdowns. Rancho Santiago will be without wide receiver Hector Flores, who was ejected in the victory over Pasadena and must sit out this week under conference rules.

Southwestern is last in the State in defense, giving up 43 points and 474 yards per game. Rancho Santiago’s defense is ranked No. 1 against the rush (114 yards) and fourth overall (364) in conference.

Saddleback (1-5-1, 1-1-1) vs. Golden West (2-5-1, 2-2), Orange Coast, 7 p.m.--Saddleback is coming off its first victory, a 25-23 victory over Riverside. Saddleback, normally an offensive power, is last in the conference at 299 yards per game. The Gauchos have scored 17 touchdowns, 20 fewer than conference-leader El Camino. Golden West, despite losing three tailbacks to injuries, is fourth in the conference in rushing at 188 yards per game.