Rancho Santiago, Orange Coast to Square Off

Rancho Santiago and Orange Coast match modest two-game winning streaks when the teams meet in a Mission Conference Central Division football game at 1 p.m. today at Santa Ana Stadium.

Rancho Santiago (3-2, 1-0 in the division) is coming off a 21-18 victory over Golden West in which the Dons established a consistent running game for the first time this season. Steve Bodnar, a freshman from Mater Dei, had 134 yards in 17 carries.

The Dons are averaging 148 yards per game rushing, fifth best in the 14-team conference.

Orange Coast is also coming off an impressive rushing performance, in which the Pirates ran for 373 yards in a 42-21 victory over San Diego Mesa. OCC is averaging 173 yards rushing, third best in the conference.

William League had 177 yards and three touchdowns against San Diego Mesa and leads the team with 463 yards.

In other Mission Conference 7 p.m. games:

El Camino (5-0) at Saddleback (2-3)--El Camino is the top-ranked team in Southern California and the No. 2 team in the J.C. Grid-Wire national ranking. The Warriors are led by running back Saladin McCullough, who has gained more than 200 yards in his last two games. He leads the conference with 598 yards.

An upset isn’t out of the question because Saddleback has the conference’s best defense, giving up 248 yards per game, including 66 rushing.

Golden West (2-4, 0-2) at Southwestern (2-3, 0-2)--Each team has two-game losing streak, but Golden West has been beaten by a combined six points. Southwestern’s last two losses were by a combined 56 points. Charles Chatman has rushed for 379 yards and three touchdowns and Wesley Morris has 30 catches for 424 yards for Golden West.

Riverside (1-4, 1-1) vs. Fullerton (1-3-1, 1-0) at Cal State Fullerton--Mike Jacot has 432 yards of Fullerton’s 450 yards rushing yards this season. Eric Hannah has seven touchdown passes for the Hornets.