Saavedra Gets Passing Grade in 36-13 Saddleback Victory

Ramon Saavedra passed for four first-half touchdowns to spark Saddleback to a 36-13 victory over Rancho Alamitos in a nonleague prep football game Saturday at Santa Ana Stadium.

Ismael Isais caught two of Saavedra’s scoring passes as Saddleback rolled to a 28-13 lead at the half, on the way to evening its record at 3-3.

The Roadrunners led, 14-13, before Saavedra hit Isais on a 13-yard scoring play with 5:46 to play in the first half.

Saavedra then increased the lead on Saddleback’s final drive of the half, hooking up with Brian Wright on an eight-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds to play.

Saavedra, who has 12 touchdown passes on the season, completed 12 of 24 passes for 122 yards, with Isais catching seven passes for 61 yards. Joel Gonzalez complemented the Roadrunner passing attack by rushing for 154 yards on 24 carries.

Saddleback opened the scoring when Isais caught a nine-yard touchdown pass with 6:27 remaining in the first quarter.

Rancho Alamitos tied the score three minutes later when quarterback Daniel Green ran in from a yard out.

Saddleback took the lead for good just before the end of the quarter when Saavedra connected with Emmett Briggs on a 33-yard touchdown pass.

Rancho Alamitos pulled within a point in the second quarter when Cory Barnes intercepted a Saavedra pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. But a kick for the extra point failed.

Rancho Alamitos (3-2-1), ranked sixth in the Southern Section Division IX poll, missed a chance to score early in the third quarter when Oscar Ayala missed a 31-yard field goal. Saddleback then took five minutes off the clock with a 12-play drive, capped by Fred Chavez’s 28-yard field goal.

Gonzalez capped the scoring on a 22-yard touchdown run with 8:04 remaining in the game.