Peraza’s Three Touchdowns Lift Saddleback

Freshman Julio Peraza became the sixth all-time leading rusher at Saddleback, running for 192 yards in 40 carries and scoring three touchdowns in the Gauchos’ 50-42 victory over Golden West in a Mission Conference Central Division game Saturday at Golden West.

J.D. Stern completed 30 of 53 passes for 417 yards and five touchdowns for Golden West (0-10, 0-5). Stern’s favorite receiver was Verdell Jones, who tied a school record with 14 receptions for 189 yards and four touchdowns.

Stern tied the mark set by teammate Paul Tessier earlier this season. Tessier caught nine passes for 139 yards and became the career reception leader with 92, surpassing the mark set by Wesley Morris in 1994-95.

Saddleback finishes 2-8, 2-3.

In other Mission Conference Central Division games:

Palomar 48, Fullerton 26--Gilbert Quiroz and Joe Hall combined for four touchdowns and 293 yards to boost visiting Palomar (9-1, 5-0).

Teammate Tony Alvarez passed nine times for two touchdowns and 150 yards.

The Hornets (3-7, 2-3) were led by Greg Garand, who passed 15 times for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Prescott Hill had two touchdowns on a three-yard run and 11-yard pass from Garand.

Santa Ana 35, Riverside 32--Rob Caston caught six passes for 116 yards and eventually the game-winning touchdown with 6 minutes 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Riverside (3-7, 2-3), then trailing 35-17, scored 15 points in the last three minutes to come within three points of Santa Ana.

Santa Ana’s Camron King finished with 159 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Dons (4-6, 4-1).

In a Northern Division game:

El Camino 50, Orange Coast 20--The Pirates (3-7, 0-5) set a school record for yards given up, allowing visiting El Camino 704 yards.

Orange Coast set two personal bests, however, with Ray Ohrel’s 302 all-purpose yards and Ivan Mercer’s nine receptions. Ohrel gave the Pirates their first game with more than 300 yards since 1987, and Mercer’s nine catches were a career-high. He now has 55 receptions this season.