Defensive Play Saves Victory for Saddleback

Joseph Tagaloa scored on a one-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter Friday night to give Saddleback a 21-14 nonleague victory over University at Santa Ana Stadium.

Tagaloa, who rushed for 159 yards in 22 carries, also made the game’s biggest play on defense for the Roadrunners (4-1). Playing safety, Tagaloa intercepted a pass in the end zone thrown by Trojan quarterback Damian DeFeo with eight seconds remaining in the game.

University (2-3) had moved from its 25-yard line to Saddleback’s five-yard line. The key play of the drive was a 24-yard pass from DeFeo to John Preston with 27 seconds to play. But on second down, Tagaloa intercepted a pass intended for Preston to seal the victory.

Tagaloa’s one-yard touchdown run with 2:15 remaining in the game capped a 16-play, 80-yard drive that closed the scoring. University had tied the score, 14-14, on a 67-yard touchdown pass from DeFeo to Preston with 8:05 left in the fourth quarter.

Saddleback took a 7-0 lead on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Juan Cabral to Derrick Barnes with 9:27 left in the first quarter. However, University tied the score, 7-7, when DeFeo teamed with Jonathan Rossi on a 45-yard touchdown pass with 3:25 left in the second quarter.

But the Roadrunners went ahead, 14-7, when Cabral threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Barnes with 2:39 left before halftime.