Saddleback Gains Playoffs by Slamming Ocean View

Joseph Tagaloa rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns Thursday as Saddleback hammered Ocean View, 46-6, to earn a Southern Section Division V playoff berth.

The Roadrunners (7-3, 3-2 in league) finished third in the Golden West League and will find out their playoff destination on Sunday.

Saddleback came up big early, scoring on its first five possessions. Tagaloa spun out of a tackle at the line of scrimmage and went 56 yards for a touchdown three plays into the game. An Ocean View fumble on the Seahawks’ first play from scrimmage gave Saddleback the ball at midfield, and the Roadrunners eventually increased the lead to 12-0 on a 24-yard scoring pass from Juan Cabral to Juan Lomeli.

Saddleback squibbed the ensuing kickoff, recovering at the Seahawk 30. A 25-yard run by Tagaloa set up a one-yard touchdown by Frankie Gonzalez, and Ocean View (2-8, 1-4) trailed 18-0 before running its second offensive play.

The Roadrunners scored two more touchdowns 25 seconds apart early in the second quarter. Tagaloa scored on a four-yard run, and after Saddleback recovered another squib kickoff, Cabral connected with tight end Fernando Cervantes on a 29-yard scoring play for a 32-0 lead.

“We had a real good week of practice and I felt like we’d come out and play well,” Saddleback Coach Jerry Witte said. “The kids have done what we’ve asked of them all year. We just need to stay healthy.”