Riverside Defense to Test Saddleback

Considering the records of Saddleback and Riverside, today’s Mission Conference Central Division football game at Saddleback would seem to be a mismatch.

Saddleback (9-0, 5-0) already has clinched the division title, a bowl berth and is ranked second in the nation. Riverside (2-6, 2-2) has struggled on offense all season.

But the Tigers’ defense holds the key to any hopes for a close game.

Riverside is fifth in the 13-team conference in defense, giving up 301 yards per game. But more importantly, Riverside has given up only 17 touchdowns.

Teams average 17.5 points per game against Riverside, which has lost by the scores of 14-10, 7-3 and 6-3 this season.

But Saddleback also has a strong defense. Teams average 245 yards, second lowest in the conference, and 15.3 points per game. Saddleback has given up 16 touchdowns in one more game than Riverside.

Last week, linebackers Joe Cesta, Brandon Smith and David Josker combined for 25 tackles and lineman Gage Oetgen had three sacks as the Gauchos clinched the division title with a 35-16 victory over Rancho Santiago.

Riverside brings a modest two-game winning streak into today’s 1 p.m. game, but Saddleback has won 15 in a row.

A Saddleback victory would give the college its fifth unbeaten regular season. The others occurred in 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1992. The 1981, ’85 and ’92 teams went on to win bowl games and finish 11-0. The ’85 and ’92 teams were selected national championships by the J.C. Grid-Wire.

In other division games:

Orange Coast (1-8, 0-5) vs. Palomar (5-4, 3-2), San Marcos High, 1:30 p.m.--Orange Coast hopes to stop its seven-game losing streak. The good news for OCC is the continued improvement of quarterback Chad Collins who tied a school record with 24 completions in a 28-14 loss to Long Beach last week.

Rancho Santiago (4-4, 2-2) vs. Golden West (1-7, 1-4), Orange Coast, 1:30 p.m.--This game features the top two running backs in Orange County. Golden West’s Charles Chatman has 841 yards and has scored nine touchdowns. Rancho Santiago’s Jermaine Gray has 817 yards and three touchdowns.

In a Mission Conference game:

Fullerton (4-4, 3-2) at San Diego Mesa (0-8, 0-5), 1:30 p.m.--Running back Carvel Gardner is coming off his best game at Fullerton. He had 217 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-28 victory over Golden West.