COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Saddleback Wins Division Title

A thick fog draped Saddleback’s field Saturday but the Gauchos’ defense had no trouble seeing its objective.

The defensive unit turned in another outstanding effort, including scoring 16 consecutive points, as the Gauchos beat Rancho Santiago, 36-14, to win the Mission Conference Central Division title.

Saddleback finished the regular season with five consecutive victories and, according to Coach Bill Cunerty, probably will play in the Dec. 2 Simple Green Orange County Bowl against Mt. San Antonio at Orange Coast College.

“I’ve never been more proud of any group of guys in 26 years of coaching,” Cunerty told his team.

The game turned in Saddleback’s favor in the second quarter.

Playing in fog so thick that neither team could see all the way across the field, Saddleback scored 16 second-quarter points off punting-related mistakes by Rancho Santiago.

James Ligons blocked a punt, picked it up and ran 35 yards for a touchdown to put Saddleback (7-3, 5-1) ahead, 10-7, with 11 minutes 30 seconds left in the half.

Two possessions later, Rancho Santiago (6-4, 4-2) snapped the ball out of the end zone for a safety that put Saddleback ahead, 12-7.

Later in the quarter, Saddleback’s Erick Fielding reversed the field twice on a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 19-7 lead with 4:41 left in the half.

Saddleback then took most of the fight out of Rancho Santiago in the final seconds of the first half.

Scott Patton punt pinned the Dons back at their seven with 35 seconds left. On the next play, Rancho Santiago’s Steve Bodnar fumbled and Ligons, a defensive back, returned it to the Rancho Santiago three with 19 seconds left in the half.

Mark Reynosa went three yards around left end for a touchdown and a 26-7 lead with 12 seconds left in the half.

The fog increased in the second half and neither offense put much together.

Saddleback’s biggest play in the second half was a 32-yard pass from quarterback Justin Vedder to wide receiver Jackie Conners (four catches for 92 yards), which gave the Gauchos a first down at the Rancho Santiago 12.

“Every time I threw a sideline pattern I had no idea if he caught the ball,” Vedder said. “I had to wait for the crowd reaction.”

Two plays later, Josh Payseno scored from one yard to put Saddleback ahead, 36-7, with 4:50 left in the third quarter.

The score completed a run of 36 consecutive points for Saddleback. The conference title was the first for Saddleback since 1992, when the Gauchos also won the J.C. Grid-Wire national title.

Saddleback went 5-5 in 1993 then fell to 1-7-2 last season.

“It feels great,” said Patton, a sophomore who is also an outstanding defensive back. “The fog wasn’t too bad for the guys on the field, for the defense anyway. It feels great to win a championship. It’s like we have a completely different team this season.”

In other Mission Conference games:

Fullerton 28, Southwestern 14--Eric Hannah completed 24 of 33 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns to lead Fullerton (4-5-1). Running back Mike Jacot also scored two touchdowns for the Hornets.

Fullerton took a 7-0 lead after Hannah connected with Ken Rockhold on a seven-yard touchdown pass. Jacot, who rushed 23 times for 121 yards, added to the lead with touchdown runs of nine and 11 yards.

Hannah’s second touchdown pass was for 13 yards to Dan Roman, and a 28-7 lead by Fullerton midway into the second quarter.

The score was 28-14 at halftime and neither team scored in the second half.

Riverside 21, Orange Coast 19--With 1:20 left on the clock and a 19-18 lead, Orange Coast appeared as it could run out the clock for a victory. But Quincy Wimbush fumbled and Riverside’s Matt Driscoll took the loose ball to Orange Coast’s 13-yard line.

After three plays, Tobin Anderson kicked a 23-yard field goal with 24 seconds to play and a 21-19 Riverside lead.