Tough Test for Saddleback Today at Mt. San Antonio

Saddleback and Mt. San Antonio, both ranked among the top five in the Southland football poll, meet in a Mission Conference game at 4 p.m. today in Walnut.

Saddleback (1-0) is third in Southern California and eighth in the nation by the J.C. Grid-Wire. The Gauchos are coming off a 59-20 victory over Orange Coast in which they rushed for 410 yards.

But Saddleback is expecting a much sterner test from Mt. San Antonio, which beat Southwestern, 30-13, in its opener. The Mounties are ranked fifth in Southern California.

Eric Shine, a freshman from Savanna High, rushed for 112 yards in 11 carries and quarterback Mike Moschetti had 116 rushing and 110 passing for Mt. San Antonio.

In other conference games:

Golden West (0-1) at Cerritos (1-0), 7 p.m.--Golden West played better than expected in a 29-21 loss to El Camino, ranked eighth in Southern California. Golden West needs to improve its running game, which gained only 42 yards. Cerritos’ Corey Kelley gained 198 yards in a 22-9 victory over Rancho Santiago.

Long Beach (1-0) vs. Rancho Santiago (0-1), Santa Ana Stadium, 1 p.m.--Catching the ball was the emphasis in practice this week for Rancho Santiago. Quarterback Mark Fausto was 17 of 40 but at least five passes were dropped, including three that would have been for touchdowns. Long Beach, the defending national champion, is ranked first in Southern California.

Pasadena (1-0) at Orange Coast (0-1), 7 p.m.--Orange Coast needs to regroup after its inexperienced defense was shredded for 619 yards and 59 points by Saddleback. William League, Orange Coast’s talented sophomore running back, was limited to 51 yards against Saddleback.