Santa Ana Looks to Improve Its Bowl Prospects

Santa Ana can complete an impressive regular-season run with a victory today when the Dons host Riverside at 1 at Santa Ana Stadium.

Santa Ana, which has clinched the Mission Conference Central Division title, is focused on extending its winning streak to seven. With a victory, Santa Ana would be 7-3 overall, 6-0 in the division, and get more respect in the bowl picture. Riverside is 4-5, 3-2.

The managers of the 14 bowl games in the state will meet Sunday to determine matchups. But there already has been plenty of politics as teams try to cut the best deal in advance of the meeting.

Mt. San Antonio (10-0) is in the best position. The Mounties are No. 1 in the Southern California poll put out by the state office. This makes them a lock to play for a berth in the state championship game Dec. 13 at Cal State Fullerton.

Bakersfield (8-1) is ranked second despite losing to No. 3 Hancock (7-2) last week, and the state office would like to match the top two teams.

The rumors include having the Simple Green Orange County Bowl move from Orange Coast to Mt. San Antonio and drop “Orange County” from its title.

“Everything is in flux right now,” said Doug Bennett, game manager of the Simple Green Bowl.

Santa Ana isn’t the only Orange County team in line for a bowl. Saddleback and Fullerton still have a chance.

Saddleback (6-3, 4-1) hosts Palomar (4-5, 2-3) and Fullerton (5-4, 3-2) is at Orange Coast (0-9, 0-5) today. Both games are at 1 p.m. Golden West (2-7) ends its season with a 7 p.m. non-divisional game against Pasadena (4-5) at OCC.

Saddleback is ranked ninth and Fullerton 13th in the most recent state polls, and there are seven bowls in Southern California.