1/8/13: Saddleback well represented on all-region team
The Saddleback football program got some more good news this week when the JC Athletic Bureau and California Community College Football Coaches Association announced its annual All America and All-Region teams. Five different Gauchos were named to the All-Region IV Team, the second most of any program in Southern California.
Four members of the offense were named to the All-Region IV squad, including quarterback Tim Belman, wide receiver Eric Lauderdale, running back James Marshall (for all-purpose) and offensive lineman Alex Dole.
 Belman had a tremendous freshman campaign, breaking a number of program records in throwing for 2,989 yards and 22 touchdowns. Lauderdale came on during the second half of his freshman season to be a dominating force, leading the team with 60 receptions for 916 yards and seven touchdowns. Marshall (pictured) was the third Gaucho freshman named to the team after finishing second on the team in rushing and sixth in receptions, leading the team with 15 touchdowns for the season. Dole was a pillar on the offensive front, helping clear the way for the aforementioned to have big seasons. The lone representative on defense for Saddleback was defensive end Marques White, who came on during the second half of the season to finish fifth on the team in tackles, fourth in sacks and third in quarterback hurries.
Saddleback had the second most representatives on the all-region team. State champion Bakersfield had six players named to the team while Ventura and Cerritos also had five.
All-Region IV Final Count:
Bakersfield, 6
Saddleback, 5
Ventura, 5
Cerritos, 5
Mt. San Antonio, 4
Palomar, 4
Santa Ana, 4
Riverside, 3
Citrus, 3
Grossmont, 3
Fullerton, 3
El Camino, 2
Allan Hancock, 1
Golden West, 1
Desert, 1
Orange Coast, 1
Moorpark, 1
1/7/13: Five Gauchos choose their next home
 The Saddleback football team announced that five players from the 2012 squad have chosen a new home for next season. It is just the beginning of what appears to be another banner year for the football program moving guys on to the next level.
Linebackers Erik Nelson (pictured) and Colton Christensen, along with tight end J.D. Krill, offensive lineman Rory Mount and safety Hasan Muhammad have already packed their bags and left for their new schools.
Nelson signed a letter of intent to continue his football career at Idaho State University, located in Pocatello, Idaho. He had a solid sophomore campaign in 2012 when fourth on the team with 55 tackles, leading the team with 17 tackles-for-loss. Nelson will join a Bengals program that plays in the Big Sky Conference.
Leading tackler Colton Christensen will take his act to Texas Christian University, where he will compete for a spot on the roster for the Horned Frogs. Christensen had a sensational sophomore campaign for the Gauchos, leading the team with 62 tackles and four interceptions. TCU is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and plays in the Big 12 Conference.
Krill recently signed with Wyoming after visits to Ole Miss and UConn during the course of the season. Krill finished with 10 receptions for 98 yards and one touchdown during the course of the season. Wyoming plays in the Mountain West Conference and is located in Laramie, Wyoming.
Mount was a pillar on the offensive line for two years at Saddleback, helping the Gauchos run up record numbers for two straight seasons. He will continue his career at Benedictine College in Atchinson, Kansas. The Ravens play an NAIA schedule in the Heart of America Conference.
Muhammad will continue his career at Notre Dame College, located in Euclid, Ohio. He was a part of the Gaucho program for two years, and will continue his career with a Falcon program that plays in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
12/22/12: X-Gaucho kicks Boise State to MAACO Bowl win
 Former Saddleback kicker Michael Frisina nailed a 27-yard field goal with 1:16 remaining in the game to lift Boise State to a 28-26 win in the MAACO Bowl on Saturday in Las Vegas. Frisina made good on three field goals in the game as the Broncos beat Washington to finish 11-2 on the season.
Frisina was the fifth leading scorer and top kicker all-time in Gaucho history, making 20 field goals and 96 extra points in his two-year career with the Gauchos in 2009-10. He also holds the program record with 51 straight extra points. He was also 14th all-time in single-season scoring, tallying 80 points for the Gauchos in 2009.
Frisina finished the season at Boise State making 15-of-20 field goals, and was 12-of-12 inside of 30 yards.
12/20/12: Former Gauchos gear up for the big stage
A number of former Gauchos will be in action over the next two weeks as the 2012 college football bowl schedule kicks into high gear during the holiday break. As many as eight former Saddleback players will take in the environment on the grandest stage, while America pauses for the holidays.
 Two former Saddleback players will get to experience major BCS games as offensive linemen Menelik Watson will play in the Orange Bowl and Kyle Long in the Fiesta Bowl. Watson is the starting right tackle at Florida State and will take on Northern Illinois on January 1. Long has started the past three games at guard for the Oregon Ducks, who will face Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl on January 3.
A number of other players from the past will also get to enjoy the taste of football on the grandest stage starting tonight, as former Gaucho linebacker Scott Graves will be on the field with San Diego State when they take on BYU in the Poinsettia Bowl. On Saturday, former kicker Michael Frisina will join his Boise State teammates as they face Washington in the Las Vegas Bowl. The very same day, former punter Brendan Rowland will head to Cajun country with his East Carolina teammates as they take on Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans.
Next weekend a number of other Gauchos will enjoy the moment, starting on Saturday, December 29. Former defensive lineman Blake Harrah will be with his Oregon State team in the Alamo Bowl as they take on Texas while former safety Luke Williams will watch from the sidelines as a redshirt this season with Arizona State as they face Navy in the Fight Hunger Bowl. In addition, former Saddleback center Sam Tautolo will be a part of the New Years Eve festivities in Memphis as his Iowa State Cyclones face Tulsa in the Liberty Bowl.
Enjoy the holidays, folks, and remember to watch for the Gauchos!
12/5/12: 14 Gauchos named All-National Division Southern Conference
 The Saddleback football program has loaded up on post-season awards following a National Division Southern Conference championship. A total of 13 players and one coach were recognized by the coaches in the conference when the annual awards were handed down.
Head coach Mark McElroy (right) was named Co-Coach-of-the-year along with Fullerton coach Tim Byrnes after a tremendous turnaround where the Gauchos won their last five games of the season to capture the conference title. It was the third time McElroy has been named the top coach in the conference since arriving in 1999.
 Saddleback had seven offensive players named to the all-conference team, as four were named to the first team in guard Alex Dole, quarterback Tim Belman (left), wide receiver Eric Lauderdale and running back James Marshall was named as an all-purpose player. Guard Braden Peterson, wide receiver Terrell Johnson and running back Anthony Cade were named to the second team.
The Gauchos had six players named to the all-conference team on defense, including four that made the first team. Safety Doug Ruggles, corner Kevin Adams, linebacker Colten Christensen and defensive end Marques White were all recognized as first team players while defensive end Jake Belnap and linebacker Darnell Morris were put on the second team.
Saddleback finished the season 6-5 overall, losing to Mt. San Antonio College in the Southern California semifinals (7-12).
11/16/12: Gauchos looking to knock off nation’s No. 2 team in playoffs
 The Saddleback football team took a rather circuitous route to the Southern California playoffs, but now that they are there has a lot of momentum heading into Saturday night’s matchup with Mt. San Antonio College. The Gauchos have won five straight games in must-win situations, and have played the Mounties very close in recent meetings.
Saddleback has been en eyelash from beating Mt. San Antonio in recent games, including a 51-48 loss in week one with six seconds remaining on the clock. The Gauchos also fell to the Mounties in 2011 when Mt. SAC scored 29 points in the fourth quarter in snatching a 38-34 victory from the jaws of defeat. The most painful may have come in 2010 when Mt. SAC scored with no time on the clock to beat Saddleback 34-31. Even when the Mounties were at their best in 2009 when they won the national title, it was the Gauchos that provided their only blemish with a 24-14 win in 105-degree heat. The 2008 game had a similar pattern, as Mt. SAC tied the game with three seconds remaining in regulation before kicking a 42-yard field goal in overtime for a 23-20 win. In short, Mt. SAC has a 4-1 advantage over the past five battles, but holds only a three-point advantage in total points (160-157).
 Mt. San Antonio enters the game ranked No. 2 in the latest JCGridiron.com Dirty 30 national rankings. The Mounties have won 10 straight games since losing the 2011 state title game to City College of San Francisco. Mt. SAC has improved greatly from the team that surrendered a Saddleback-record 39 first downs and 525 yards to the Gauchos in week one. The Mounties are fresh off a stunning 25-0 win over highly-powered Riverside, knocking the Tigers out of the playoffs. Mt. SAC has recorded two shutouts in the past three weeks, and has given up 14 or less points on six occasions this season. The Mounties have also improved to No. 17 in the state in total offense, led by sophomore quarterback Nick Montana. The son of Hall of Famer Joe Montana has been very hot as of late, throwing five touchdowns against no interceptions in the past two games, completing 81% of his passes against Riverside this past weekend.
Saddleback enters the game ranked No. 27 in the latest JCGridiron.com Dirty 30 Rankings, and has been rolling on offense over the past five weeks. The Gauchos have averaged 583 yards in the recent winning streak, rising to No. 6 in the state in total offense and No. 7 in passing yards. Quarterback Tim Belman has been particularly hot, throwing 16 touchdowns while completing 66% of his passes. The running game has also been very good, as the duo of Anthony Cade and James Marshall have given the Gauchos some balance in scoring 11 touchdowns on the ground.
Game time is set for 6:00 pm at Mt. San Antonio.
Inside the Numbers:
Total Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 488 ypg (6)
Mt. SAC, 439 ypg (17)
Rushing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 154 ypg (33)
Mt. SAC, 183 ypg (22)
Passing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 334 ypg (7)
Mt. SAC, 256 ypg (23)
Total Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 397 ypg (40)
Mt. SAC, 303 ypg (4)
Rushing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 106 ypg (8)
Mt. SAC, 80 ypg (3)
Passing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 290 ypg (66)
Mt. SAC, 223 ypg (31)
Game Information:
Saddleback (6-4) vs. Mt. SAC (10-0)
@ Mt. San Antonio College
6:00 pm
Lifetime Series:
Mt. SAC leads 10-8
(last meeting 2012; Mt. SAC 51, Saddleback 48)
National Rankings by JCGridiron.com
Saddleback (27)
Mt. SAC (2)
Media Coverage:
KSBR Radio
Social Media:
11/11/12: Football travelling to Mt. SAC for playoffs
 The CCCAA just announced that Saddleback will travel to Mt. San Antonio College to face the top-seeded Mounties in the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs this Saturday, November 17, with kickoff at 6:00 p.m. The Gauchos and Mounties opened the season against each other so it is almost fitting that one team's season will end in the same matchup.
In that September 1st contest in Mission Viejo, Mt. San Antonio kicker Donald Hageman booted a 19-yard field goal with :02 on the clock to lift the Mounties to a 51-48 victory despite a record-setting performance from Saddleback quarterback Tim Belman and the Saddleback offense.
Ticket information for Saturday's playoff game has not been announced by Mt. San Antonio College. More information will be available at: www.athletics.mtsac.edu
11/11/12: Gauchos smother Golden West for final playoff spot
 The Saddleback football program did the unthinkable on Saturday, winning its fifth straight game to qualify for the Southern California playoffs starting next week. The Gauchos dominated Golden West for a 48-10 win on the heels of a Santa Ana loss, giving them the National Division Southern Conference championship.
Saddleback was well aware of their goals when they took the field on Saturday evening, as word spread quickly that Santa Ana had lost earlier in the day. The Gauchos dashed to a 21-3 lead at the half, cruising to a 48-10 win which led to a Gatorade bath for the coach.
Saddleback had arguably its most dominating performance of the season, getting it done on both sides of the ball. The Gauchos rolled up 564 yards of offense while holding the Rustlers to 253 yards, as quarterback Tim Belman finished with 401 yards passing and three touchdown passes on the night. The Saddleback defense was smothering at times, sacking Golden West quarterback Roman Lewis five times while holding the Rustlers to just 3-of-13 third down conversions on the night.
 Saddleback opened the game with a 74-yard drive that was capped off with a Belman 10-yard pass to Dominic Ela in giving the Gauchos a lead they would never relinquish. The Gauchos put the game on ice on the final drive of the first half when Josh Hawkins scampered 22 yards for a 28-3 halftime lead.
The win vaulted Saddleback to a National Division Southern Conference title after Santa Ana fell to Fullerton 57-23 earlier in the day. It was the first conference title for the Gauchos since winning the Mission Conference National Division title in 2006.
The official playoff pairings will be announced later today, but Saddleback is expected to travel to Mt. San Antonio College next weekend in the Southern California semifinals. Mt. San Antonio was rated No. 1 in the latest polls heading into the week, and defeated Riverside 25-0 on Saturday night. The final playoff spot is up for grabs at the coaches meeting today, and is expected to be between Riverside and Bakersfield, who would likely travel to Ventura College on Saturday.
11/9/12: Gauchos could be playing for conference title on Saturday
 The Saddleback football team has had a tremendous turnaround after a 1-4 start and still has a shot at the National Division Southern Conference title on the final weekend of the regular season. A win by the Gauchos combined with a loss by Santa Ana would put Saddleback into the playoffs next weekend.
Saddleback will no exactly what they are playing for when they take the field against Golden West College on Saturday at 6:00 pm. The Gauchos are currently in a tie for first place with both Fullerton and Santa Ana, who play each other at 1:00 pm at Santa Ana. A win by Fullerton in the annual Key to the County Game would provide Saddleback an opportunity to win the conference title as a result of beating Fullerton four weeks back. A win by Santa Ana would have the Gauchos playing for a potential bowl bid on Sunday.
If history repeats itself, Saddleback is in a good spot as the Gauchos have an 18-2-1 lifetime record against Golden West, while Fullerton has won the last five matchups against Santa Ana. Saddleback is riding a four-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 197-95 over that time frame. Fullerton has also been hot, winning three straight games since falling to the Gauchos on October 13.
Saddleback will play a Golden West program that has won just one game in the past six weeks, a 23-21 win over rival Orange Coast last weekend. The Rustlers have really struggled on offense, averaging just 16.2 points-per-game over the six-game span, and have never scored more than 23 points in any game over that period of time.
Conversely, the Gauchos have been rolling up huge numbers over the past four weeks, averaging 49.3 points-per-game. They have averaged 588 yards-per-game on offense over the last four weeks, improving to No. 10 in the state in total offense.
If there is a silver lining for Golden West, it is a very solid defense which currently ranks No. 20 in the state. The Rustlers are No. 28 against the pass and No. 21 against the run, giving them a puncher’s chance on Saturday. The Gauchos hope to turn the game into a track meet early, forcing Golden West to play catch up.
Inside the Numbers:
Total Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 480 ypg (10)
Golden West, 297 ypg (63)
Rushing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 154 ypg (32)
Golden West, 129 ypg (46)
Passing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 326 ypg (7)
Golden West, 168 ypg (57)
Total Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 413 ypg (47)
Golden West, 349 ypg (20)
Rushing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 103 ypg (8)
Golden West, 130 ypg (21)
Passing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 309 ypg (70)
Golden West, 219 ypg (28)
Game Information:
Saddleback (5-4) vs. Golden West (3-6)
@ Orange Coast College
6:00 pm
Lifetime Series:
Saddleback leads 18-2-1
(last meeting 2009; Saddleback 33, Golden West 23)
National Rankings by JCGridiron.com
Saddleback (36)
Golden West (NR)
Media Coverage:
KSBR Radio
Social Media:
11/4/12: Gauchos cruise past Grossmont to keep playoff hopes alive
 The Saddleback football team won its fourth straight game on Saturday night, defeating Grossmont College, 66-42, at the Snakepit in Mission Viejo. The Gauchos are in a three-way tie for first place, with one game remaining on the regular season schedule.
Saddleback’s offense was nearly unstoppable on Saturday, rolling up 608 yards of offense and scoring at will. The Gauchos had 374 yards in the first half, and never had one scoring drive that lasted more than 3:17 the entire night.
Freshman wide receiver Eric Lauderdale was a dominating force on the outside, catching 10 balls for 218 yards and three scores. Lauderdale repeatedly beat the Grossmont defenders to the open spot, allowing quarterback Tim Belman to throw for 475 yards and six touchdowns. When Saddleback wasn’t torching the Grossmont secondary, running back James Marshall was pounding them on the ground, finishing with 104 yards rushing and two scores of his own.
The Saddleback defense surrendered some big plays, but also made some big plays as they forced Grossmont into four turnovers and recorded a safety. More than anything, the Gauchos were victimized by 18 penalties, seven of which resulted in Grossmont first downs.
Saddleback improved to 5-4 overall and 4-1 in National Division Southern Conference play with the win. The Gauchos are now tied with Santa Ana and Fullerton at the top of the standings with one week left in conference play. A win by Saddleback next week combined with a Fullerton win over Santa Ana would give the Gauchos the conference title and a spot in the Southern California playoffs, starting on November 17. A loss would eliminate Saddleback from the playoff picture.
11/2/12: Gauchos looking to extend winning streak to four on Saturday
 The Saddleback football team is playing its best football of the season, and looks to extend its winning stream to four straight games on Saturday when it hosts Grossmont College at 6:00 pm. The Gauchos need a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, with four teams tied at the top of the National Division Southern Conference standings.
Saturday’s game can be seen on the Gaucho Sports Network, with the stream kicking up around 5:50 pm. The cost to subscribe is $10, with all proceeds going directly back into the athletics program.
Saddleback and Grossmont have met 20 times since the series started in 1969. The Gauchos have a 14-5-1 record against the Griffins, but have actually gone 16-3-1 on the field and later had to forfeit games in 1986 and 1987. Saddleback defeated Grossmont in 2011 (37-23) when they jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, forcing the Griffins into six turnovers.
The Saddleback defense has improved greatly in recent weeks and looks to continue that trend on Saturday. The Gauchos rose to No. 44 in total defense, up 15 spots from three weeks back. The key to the improvement has been a tremendous effort up front where Saddleback has improved greatly. The Gaucho rush defense is now rated No. 8 in the state, surrendering just 98 yards-per-game. Saddleback has now recorded 30 sacks on the season, which ranks sixth in the state.
Grossmont comes into the game ranked No. 33 in total offense. The Griffins favor the pass, as they average 261 yards-per-game through the air but just 127 on the ground. Grossmont has struggled at times with consistency at quarterback, as Griffin quarterbacks have completed just 50% of their passes during the season, with 19 touchdowns versus 13 interceptions. The Grossmont defense ranks No. 38 in the state overall, and will be tested by a Saddleback offense that has gotten very balanced in recent weeks. The Gauchos are ranked No. 14 in the state in total offense, but have been climbing upwards in the running game where they now rank No. 29. The Saddleback passing game still ranks No. 9 in the state at 307 yards-per-game, and should give the Griffins some problems on Saturday.
A win on Saturday would keep Saddleback in a tie for first place in the National Division Southern Conference, at worst. The Gauchos could actually take over sole possession of first place with a win should Santa Ana lose at Palomar and Fullerton lose at home to Orange Coast.
 In addition, Saddleback has now moved back into the national picture and comes in at No. 39 in the JCGridiron.com Dirty 30 Rankings.
National Division Southern Conference Standings
| Team |
Conf |
Overall |
| Santa Ana |
3-1 |
6-2 |
| Grossmont |
3-1 |
5-3 |
| Fullerton |
3-1 |
4-4 |
| Saddleback |
3-1 |
4-4 |
| Palomar |
1-3 |
3-5 |
| Goden West |
1-4 |
3-6 |
| Orange Coast |
1-4 |
3-6 |
Inside the Numbers:
Total Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 464 ypg (14)
Grossmont, 389 ypg (33)
Rushing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 157 ypg (29)
Grossmont, 127 ypg (47)
Passing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 307 ypg (9)
Grossmont, 261 ypg (22)
Total Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 405 ypg (44)
Grossmont, 388 ypg (38)
Rushing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 98 ypg (8)
Grossmont, 163 ypg (46)
Passing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 306 ypg (68)
Grossmont, 225 ypg (34)
Game Information:
Saddleback (4-4) vs. Grossmont (5-3)
Saddleback Stadium (The Snakepit)
6:00 pm
Lifetime Series:
Saddleback leads 14-5-1
(last meeting 2011; Saddleback 37, Grossmont 23)
National Rankings by JCGridiron.com
Saddleback (39)
Grossmont (NR)
Media Coverage:
Gaucho Sports Network (streaming)
KSBR Radio
Social Media:
10/28/12: Gaucho air defense intercepts Comets in latest win
 The Saddleback defense rose to the occasion on Saturday in defeating Palomar College, 35-21, at Escondido High School. The Gaucho defense intercepted six Comet passes, putting Saddleback in a tie for first place in the National Division Southern Conference.
Saddleback’s defense has given up more than its share of big plays in 2012, but on Saturday it was the defense that rose to the occasion, giving the offense plenty of opportunities to win the game. Gaucho defenders picked off six Palomar passes, returning one for a touchdown in a game filled with turnovers.
Freshman safety Doak Workman gave Saddleback an early lead when he intercepted Palomar quarterback Tyler Bergman and returned it 14 yards to give the Gauchos an early 7-0 lead. It was one of three first-half interceptions for Saddleback, who darted out to a 21-7 lead at the intermission.
The Saddleback offense also did its part, rolling up 538 yards, including a four-touchdown performance by James Marshall (pictured). The freshman running back had three touchdowns on the ground and one through the air, as the Gauchos rushed for 221 yards on the ground.
Saddleback had chances to put the game away early, but was victimized by the fumbling bug, turning the ball over four times on fumbles. In the end, the Gauchos were too good on defense for Palomar, who managed only 24 yards rushing on the day in 37 attempts, while sacking Comet quarterbacks three times in the win.
Saddleback improved to 4-4 overall and 3-1 in National Division Southern Conference play. The Gauchos are now in a four-way tie for first place with Santa Ana, Grossmont and Fullerton. Saddleback will take on Grossmont next weekend at home at 6:00 pm.
10/26/12: Gauchos looking for revenge at Palomar
 The Saddleback football program will be looking for revenge when they travel to Escondido High School on Saturday to take on the Palomar Comets. The Gauchos were bounced from the playoffs a season ago by the Comets, and look to keep their playoff hopes alive with a win this weekend.
Saddleback started the 2011 campaign 7-0 and were cruising until back-to-back losses in weeks eight and nine derailed their plans, with the ladder coming against Palomar. The Gauchos hope that a sudden two-game winning streak will give them a positive surge of momentum headed into Saturday’s game, with a possible playoff spot still in site.
Saddleback (3-4, 2-1) enters the game on a roll, scoring 96 points over the past two weeks and averaging 603 yards of offense against Fullerton and Orange Coast. Palomar (3-4, 1-2) enters on a two-game losing streak, falling to both Cerritos and Fullerton while surrendering 492 yards-per-game.
Saddleback started the season a disappointing 1-4, leaving them with must-win games the rest of the regular season. A win on Saturday would get them back to square one at .500, and leave them with a legitimate shot at qualifying for the Southern California playoffs in November.
Inside the Numbers:
Total Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 453 ypg (16)
Palomar, 350 ypg (46)
Rushing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 148 ypg (34)
Palomar, 137 ypg (38)
Passing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 305 ypg (9)
Palomar, 213 ypg (39)
Total Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 412 ypg (50)
Palomar, 450 ypg (61)
Rushing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 109 ypg (12)
Palomar, 167 ypg (45)
Passing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 303 ypg (66)
Palomar, 283 ypg (61)
Game Information:
Saddleback (3-4) vs. Palomar (3-4)
Escondido High School
6:00 pm
Lifetime Series:
Saddleback leads 23-13
(last meeting 2011; Palomar 44, Saddleback 41)
Media Coverage:
KSBR Radio
Social Media:
10/21/12: Gauchos shipwreck Pirates to stay alive
The Saddleback Gauchos put together their best 60 minutes of football all season long on Saturday night in defeating the Orange Coast Pirates, 52-24. Saddleback rolled up 599 yards of offense, including 335 yards on ground in dismantling Orange Coast to stay alive in the playoff hunt.
After a 1-4 start to the season, Saddleback is treating every game like a playoff game these days and for the second straight week looked like a team that didn’t want to be left out of the playoff picture. The Gauchos raced to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, dominating at times in improving to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the National Division Southern Conference.
Saddleback got a tremendous effort all around, as the defensive line pummeled Orange Coast quarterbacks for eight sacks on the night. Meanwhile, the offense looked like a well-oiled machine in putting up big numbers.
Anthony Cade was sensational at times, finishing with 237 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Cade finished with 177 yards rushing on just 18 carries (9.8 ypc) while catching four balls for 60 yards. James Marshall (right) was equally effective, rushing for 111 yards and two scores of his own as the Gauchos averaged 7.3 yards-per-carry on the night.
The defense was led by a tremendous push up front that finished the game with eight sacks on the night. Jake Belnap and Marques White both finished with 2.5 sacks, constantly frustrating Orange Coast quarterback Cameron Biedgoly. When they weren’t pressuring the quarterback, they were taking away the Pirate running game, holding Orange Coast to only 35 yards rushing on 35 attempts.
Saddleback improved to 3-4 overall, but more importantly chalked up another win in National Division Southern Conference place in improving to 2-1. They will face Palomar College next Saturday at Escondido High School. Game time is set for 6:00 pm.
10/19/12: Gaucho playoff hopes still alive on GSN
 The beginning of the season didn’t go as well as Saddleback players, fans and coaches would have wanted, but the Saddleback football team still has a shot at the Southern California playoffs if they can put together a winning streak. The Gauchos will start their push towards a playoff spot with a home date against Orange Coast on Saturday.
For those that can’t make it to the game, you can watch it via live streaming video on the Gaucho Sports Network for a $10 fee. All of the proceeds from Saddleback games on GSN go directly towards the promotion of players and teams.
Saddleback (2-4, 1-1) opens up the stretch drive against Orange Coast College (3-4, 1-2), a program they haven’t lost to since the 2002 season. The Gauchos have won eight straight games against the Pirates, including a 44-20 win last year. Saddleback owns a 23-12 record against Orange Coast since the series began in 1976, but this is a very different kind of year. Saddleback needs to build momentum after a solid win against Fullerton last week, something they have had a hard time doing this season. The Gauchos haven’t won two straight games since ripping off seven straight wins to start the 2011 campaign. A win on Saturday would get them to 3-4 overall and, more importantly, 2-1 in National Division Southern Conference play. A loss would likely eliminate them from any chance of making the playoffs.
The two teams are very similar on paper, as Orange Coast is rated No. 51 in the state in total defense while Saddleback is No. 52. Offensively they are also very close, with Orange Coast coming in at No. 18 and the Gauchos at No. 23. Although offensively the two teams are very much the same, both favoring the pass, the two teams are very different on defense. Orange Coast’s pass defense has been far superior to the Saddleback pass defense so far but the roles are reversed when it comes to rush defense. The Pirates have given up 218 yards-per-game on the ground, whereas the Gauchos have given up just 121.
Game time is set for 6:00 pm at the Saddleback Stadium.
Inside the Numbers:
Total Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 429 ypg (23)
Orange Coast, 446 ypg (18)
Rushing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 117 ypg (47)
Orange Coast, 155 ypg (32)
Passing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 312 ypg (8)
Orange Coast, 291 ypg (11)
Total Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 421 ypg (52)
Orange Coast, 419 ypg (51)
Rushing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 121 ypg (18)
Orange Coast, 218 ypg (64)
Passing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 300 ypg (65)
Orange Coast, 202 ypg (20)
Game Information:
Saddleback (2-4) vs. Orange Coast (3-4)
Saddleback Stadium (The Snakepit)
6:00 pm
Lifetime Series:
Saddleback leads 23-12
(last meeting 2011; Saddleback 44, Orange Coast 20)
Media Coverage:
Gaucho Sports Network (streaming)
KSBR Radio
Social Media:
10/13/12: Gauchos sting Hornets to earn victory
 Saddleback got back in the win column Saturday night in Fullerton with a 44-29 victory over the Hornets, breaking open a kicker’s duel in the first half to pull away with big plays in the second half.
The first half scoring see-sawed back and forth as both teams matched up equally. Saddleback freshman receiver Eric Lauderdale caught a 29-yard pass to put the Gauchos up 7-3 in the first quarter but Fullerton countered with an 80-yard run by Lavorrie Johnson to regain the lead, 10-7. Just 20 seconds later, Saddleback answered back as Josh Hawkins (pictured left) scampered for a 76-yard of his own and a 14-10 Gaucho lead. Before the end of the first quarter, Fullerton would march the length of the field to add another touchdown, reclaiming the lead at 17-14.
The second quarter saw plenty of offense, just no pay-dirt, as the field goal kickers became the featured attraction. Saddleback’s Ryan Steska kicked all three of his field goals in the second quarter, connecting on boots of 23, 22, and 31 yards. Fullerton’s Jesse Aguilar poked a 45-yard kick through the uprights, accounting for one of his school-record tying five field goals on the evening. Saddleback would hold a slim 23-20 lead at the intermission.
Saddleback’s second-half adjustments were just what the team needed to pull away from the Hornets. The Gauchos struck first with Anthony Cade catching an 8-yard scoring pass from Tim Belman (pictured right) to give Saddleback a 10-point cushion. Fullerton would answer with its own scoring drive, but would only be able to post field goals while watching Saddleback post touchdowns for the rest of the night. Both teams scored three times in the second half, including Gaucho touchdown receptions by James Marshall (four yards) and Lauderdale (48 yards) to account for the final point spread.
Lauderdale had a big night for the Gauchos, hauling in 10 receptions for 191 yards and those two touchdowns, while Cade accounted for 181 all-purpose yards. Belman connected on 38 of his 58 pass attempts for 445 yards and four touchdowns.
Johnson was Fullerton’s biggest offensive threat, finishing with 272 all-purpose yards. Hornet quarterback Conor Bednarski had 326 passing yards, but the Gaucho defense got to him for five sacks, five hurries, and three interceptions. Linebacker Colten Christensen returned one of those interceptions 37 yards to the Fullerton 2-yard line in the second quarter. Although he ended up in the endzone, officials ruled he stepped out of bounds shy of the goal line. That return led to a field goal.
Saddleback will return home this Saturday, hosting Orange Coast College at 6:00 p.m. in the stadium.
10/5/12: Football looking for respect at Ventura
 The Saddleback football season hasn’t exactly gone as planned so far, with the Gauchos entering the week 1-3 and headed to play one of the top teams in Southern California. Saddleback has a chance to right the ship on Saturday night as a win in Ventura would heal a lot of wounds.
Saddleback has played one of the tougher schedules in the country so far, and that isn’t likely to get any easier this Saturday when they travel to 5-0 Ventura, a program ranked No. 6 in the nation by JCGridiron.com and No. 2 in Southern California by the coaches association. The Gauchos still haven’t played four solid quarters in any game this season, but could cure a lot of ills and turn around the season with a solid performance this weekend.
Ventura comes into the game after a dominating win over Moorpark last weekend. The Pirates have turned things around in the past three seasons under head coach Steve Mooshiagian, who has brought the Ventura program from relative obscurity to national prominence.
Ventura is led by a stout defense against the run. The Pirates are 13th in the state in rush defense, allowing 104 yards-per-game for the season. Ventura has been vulnerable against the pass, however, giving up 244 yards-per-game. Saddleback ranks No. 8 in the state in passing, averaging 310 yards-per-game through four games which could make for an interesting chess match between the two coaching staffs.
Despite Saddleback’s 1-3 start, the Gauchos are still very much alive in the Southern California playoff hunt. Having only played one conference game, they still hold all the cards in their own hands and a non-conference game at Ventura will not affect their chances going forward. However, if Saddleback were to somehow work their way into a possible wide card playoff spot, that final spot is determined by human polls. A win at Ventura would go a long ways towards helping their cause for a potential wild card playoff berth.
Saddleback and Ventura will kick off at 6:00 pm.
Inside the Numbers:
Total Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 437.0 ypg (18)
Ventura, 384.6 ypg (33)
Rushing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 126.8 ypg (44)
Ventura, 132.0 ypg (41)
Passing Offense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 310.3 ypg (8)
Ventura, 252.6 ypg (23)
Total Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 434.8 ypg (57)
Ventura, 348.4 ypg (26)
Rushing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 131.5 ypg (26)
Ventura, 104.4 ypg (13)
Passing Defense (w/state ranking)
Saddleback, 303.2 ypg (68)
Ventura, 244.0 ypg (41)
Game Information:
Saddleback (1-3) @ Ventura (5-0)
Ventura Stadium
6:00 pm
Lifetime Series:
Saddleback leads 7-0
(last meeting 2002; Saddleback 45, Ventura 10)
Media Coverage:
KSBR Radio
Social Media:
Twitter
9/30/12: Gauchos fall on Homecoming night
The Saddleback football team fell to 1-3 on the season with a 33-20 loss at home to Santa Ana College on Saturday night. The Gauchos led at halftime before going silent in the second half.
 Saddleback has battled consistency throughout the season, playing at least one bad half in every game this season. It once again haunted them on Saturday night, as they went scoreless in the second half in losing their first game in National Division Southern Conference play.
Saddleback overcame a number of careless penalties in the first half in taking a 20-17 lead into the locker room. The Gauchos committed seven false start penalties in the first 30 minutes, but made just enough plays before the halftime festivities to give a ray of hope that their 11-game winning streak against the Dons would continue for one more season. Unfortunately, a pair of costly holding calls and an untimely interception derailed Saddleback in the second half, leading to their first loss against Santa Ana since 1998.
Saddleback had its chances to make some plays throughout the game, but it was the Dons that made a couple of critical plays when all the chips were on the line. Santa Ana was trailing 13-10 midway through the second quarter and the Gauchos had grabbed the momentum, when the Dons made a gutsy call and made it count. Facing a fourth down at the Saddleback 35-yard line, Santa Ana opted to try and make a first down and ended up cashing in big as quarterback Hayden Gavett threw a strike to Joshua Webb along the sidelines for a touchdown, giving Santa Ana the lead and grabbing back the momentum. Then with the Dons leading 27-20 midway through the fourth quarter, defensive back Romel Lilly stepped in front of a Jake Geringer pass along the sidelines and walked untouched into the end zone to give a Dons a 13-point lead, effectively taking the wind out of the Gauchos and their fans.
In the end, the game was very close and could have gone either way, with both teams making 23 first downs and Santa Ana holding a narrow 407-403 edge in total yardage. Saddleback running back Anthony Cade may have been the star of the game despite the loss on the scoreboard, finishing with 151 total rushing/receiving yards. Cade also made a couple of other big plays in the second half that were called back for offensive holding, often times looking like the top athlete on the field.
Saddleback will now have to pick up the pieces on the road next Saturday against one of only four undefeated teams in Southern California, Ventura College. The Gauchos will take on the Pirates at 6:00 pm in Ventura, in what is the first meeting between the two programs since 2002. Saddleback is 7-0 lifetime against Ventura dating back to 1978.
In addition to the game on Saturday night, Saddleback inducted 78 former athletes into the Saddleback Athletic Hall of Fame. Former Gauchos from a variety of sports were presented medals, including NCAA record-setting quarterback and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Colt Brennan (University of Hawaii) as well as 2007 Fiesta Bowl hero Jerard Rabb (Boise State) whose touchdown run on a hook-and-lateral helped the Broncos defeat Oklahoma in overtime.
9/26/12: Saturday finds Homecoming/Hall of Fame all wrapped in one
 Saturday night will be a special one at Saddleback College as the Gauchos host Santa Ana College in the annual Homecoming game at the stadium. In addition, 74 former athletes will be inducted into the Saddleback Athletics Hall of Fame.
Saddleback will celebrate the past on Saturday night like never before, as former athletes and students show up for the Homecoming football game while honoring former Gauchos for their accomplishments. The Gauchos and Dons will play at 6:00 pm, while the 74 former athletes will be introduced and presented medals at halftime of the game. Pre-game activities will start at 4:00 pm with a band, Waffle-icious food trucks, kid’s games, a bounce house and ball pit.
Saddleback (1-2) will look to bounce back against Santa Ana (2-2) after a disappointing loss against Riverside two weeks back. Head coach Mark McElroy (pictured right) says Santa Ana presents a lot of problems.
“They are very good on offense,” McElroy said. “They have a strong running game and put a lot of points on the board. Their defense is filled with athletes. It will be a big challenge.”
If you are unable to attend, the game on Saturday will be available via streaming video on the Gaucho Sports Network for a $10 fee. To subscribe to the event, go to the GSN page on the site.
Inside the Numbers:
Offense (with state ranking):
Total Offense:
Saddleback, 448 ypg (18)
Santa Ana , 422 ypg (20)
Rush Offense:
Saddleback, 113 ypg (50)
Santa Ana, 208 ypg (10)
Pass Offense:
Saddleback, 336 ypg (8)
Santa Ana, 214 ypg (40)
Defense (with state ranking):
Total Defense:
Saddleback, 444 ypg (58)
Santa Ana, 363 ypg (28)
Rush Defense:
Saddleback 109 ypg (17)
Santa Ana, 105 ypg (14)
Pass Defense:
Saddleback, 335 ypg (68)
Santa Ana, 258 ypg (50)
Game Information:
Saddleback (1-2) vs. Santa Ana (2-2)
Saddleback Stadium “The Snakepit”
6:00 pm
Lifetime Series:
Saddleback leads 24-5
(last meeting 2009; Saddleback 42, Santa Ana 38)
Media Coverage:
Gaucho Sports Network
KSBR Radio
Social Media:
Twitter
9/9/12: Gaucho comeback gives McElroy No. 100
 Saddleback was able to even its record at 1-1 by using a strong second half in toppling College of the Canyons, 50-34, in Valencia on Saturday night. It was the 100th career win for head coach Mark McElroy, who entered his 14th season at 99-44.
In a game which lasted over 3-1/2 hours, the Gauchos were able to overcome a rough first half before getting the offense and special teams in sync in the second half to outscore Canyons 36-10. After trailing 24-16 at the intermission, the Gauchos' defense stopped Canyons on the Cougars' first drive of the second half before Tyler Firestone blocked the Cougars' punt and returned the ball himself 35 yards for a touchdown.
After surrendering a field goal, Saddleback took the lead for good on Anthony Cade's 3-yard touchdown plunge that capped a six play, 75-yard drive. Ryan Steska would add a 29-yard field goal and quarterback Tim Belman found Chris Simonton for a 41-yard scoring pass as Saddleback opened up a 40-27 lead early in the fourth quarter. Canyons would return the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to close the gap to 40-34 but the Cougars would turn the ball over on downs on their next two possessions as the Saddleback defense started to tighten its belt.
After a slow start in the first half, Belman was able to finish the game with 30 completions in 52 attempts for 376 yards and three touchdowns. Exavier Edwards-Ford added eight receptions for 100 yards and also had four punt returns for 82 yards. Cade had 14 carries for 70 yards and added nine receptions for 62 yards.
Firestone ended up with two blocked punts in the contest while Colten Christensen made 11 tackles and had an interception for the defense.
Saddleback will host Riverside City College (2-0) on Saturday, September 15, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
9/7/12: Gauchos look to regroup at Canyons
 The Saddleback football team will try and get back to .500 on Saturday when it travels to College of the Canyons for a 7:00 pm start against the Cougars. The Gauchos are coming off a tough loss to Mt. SAC in the opener, but will look to get back on track in Valencia.
Saddleback and Canyons have met just four times, with the Cougars winning three of the four games in the series. The Gauchos won the last battle between the two programs when they defeated Canyons, 31-20, in 2009.
 Despite a loss in the opener, Saddleback moved up to No. 15 in the JCGridiron.com Dirty 30 national rankings this week. The Gauchos had some stellar performances, including Tim Belman’s (pictured, below left) record day under center when he threw for 414 yards on 48-of-64 passes (both school records). Belman’s performance earned him National Division Southern Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors.
 Canyons enters the game after a tough loss of their own, falling to Golden West College in overtime, 25-19. The Cougars scored on the final play of regulation to tie the game with the Rustlers, but came up short in the extra frame. Leading the way for Canyons on offense was quarterback Ryan Kasdorf, who finished 13-for-23 for 162 yards and one touchdown through the air while also leading the Cougars with 32 yards rushing.
The two teams took very different paths to their respective losses, as Canyons lost a tough defensive struggle while Saddleback lost in a shootout. The Canyons game had a total of 583 yards of offense between the two teams, while Saddleback and Mt. SAC combined for 946 total yards. The Cougars and Rustlers had 40 total first downs last weekend, while Saddleback set a program with 39 of their own against the Mounties
On one final note, we apologize to those that were trying to follow the opening game last Saturday on Twitter. The internet feed at the school was down throughout the game, thus eliminating our ability to report on the contest. We hope to have running smoothly this weekend for those that cannot attend the game in Valencia.
Game Information:
Saddleback (0-1) vs. Canyons (0-1)
7:00 PM
Cougar Stadium (directions)
JCGridiron.com National Ranking:
Saddleback (15)
Canyons (NR)
Lifetime Series:
Canyons leads 3-1
Last meeting: Saddleback 31, Canyons 20 (2009)
Media Coverage:
KSBR Radio/Webcast (Saddleback College)
Social Media:
Twitter
9/1/12: Gauchos suffer six seconds of separation
 After a record-setting performance by the Saddleback offense, victory (or at least overtime) was snatched from the hands of the Gauchos with just six seconds remaining on the clock as Mt. San Antonio posted a 51-48 victory during the season-opener in front of a crowd of 3,500.
Saddleback ran a school-record 108 offensive plays compared to just 52 by the Mounties and Gaucho quarterback Tim Belman was 48 of 64 (both school records) for 414 yards through the air, becoming only the eighth Gaucho to pass for over 400 yards in a game.
But Mt. San Antonio took advantage of some strong special teams play, one huge defensive play, and a tough Saddleback miscue to score
two touchdowns and offset Saddleback's offensive power. The Mounties scored a 93-yard kickoff return to tie the score at 7-7 and posted an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter to go up 48-31. A high snap on Saddleback's first punt attempt sailed over the punter's head and gave the Mounties a shot at the endzone from the Saddleback 4-yard line, but the Mounties threw an interception on the ensuing play and Saddleback avoided a deeper hole.
The Gauchos would battle back from that 48-31 deficit as Ryan Steska connected on a 29-yard field goal to make it 48-34 early in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Taner Crowley knocked the ball loose from the Mountie returner and Yogi Hale picked up the pigskin and scampered 31 yards for a touchdown to make the score 48-41. The Gauchos put together one final drive, marching 72 yards in 11 plays with Anthony Cade driving in from two yards out to tie the score. Cade finished with 20 carries for 120 yards, including six carries for 42 yards on that final drive.
That left about three minutes for Mt. San Antonio to set up a drive. The Mounties went three and out and it looked like Saddleback could run out the clock and head into overtime. But the Gauchos were stymied from their own 4-yard line and could only muster nine yards before giving the ball back to Mt. San Antonio with 23 seconds remaining. A pass interference call gave the Mounties the ball at midfield and then Nick Montana, son of Joe Montana, threw a Hail Mary down to the 2-yard line. It wasn't Jerry Rice but rather Kaelin Clay who came down with the ball at the two and just six seconds remaining. After three timeouts, Mountie kicker Donald Hageman was finally able to knock through the winner. But it wasn't without some drama as Saddleback's line push was able to penetrate and get a hand on the ball but it still fluttered wobbly through the uprights.
Saddleback will travel to College of the Canyons next Saturday (September 8) to battle the Cougars. Canyons fell to Golden West, 25-19, in overtime in tonight's opener for both schools.
8/27/12: Gauchos open against top-ranked Mt. SAC
The Saddleback football team opens the 2012 campaign on Saturday night when they host Mt. San Antonio College at 6:00 pm. The Mounties are the No. 1 ranked team in the nation while the Gauchos come in at No. 17 in the national rankings.
Mt. San Antonio holds a narrow 9-8 lead in the lifetime series between the two programs and the past four meetings have provided sensational drama. Unfortunately, Saddleback has been on the losing end of three of those games.
In 2008, the Gauchos held a 20-17 lead when Mt. SAC kicked a 49-yard field goal with four seconds remaining on the clock to tie the game. The Mounties would win the game on their opening drive of overtime, kicking a 42-yarder to escape with a 23-20 win. The 2009 game was played in 102-degree heat in Walnut, and Saddleback scored a 24-14 win over the Mounties in what would be the only loss for Mt. SAC on the season. The Mounties would finish the season 13-1, winning the JCGridiron.com Dirty 30 national title. In 2010, Mt. SAC ran the table to a second straight national title, but it almost didn’t happen as they were granted a second life by the officials on the final play of the night in Mission Viejo. Saddleback took a 31-27 lead on Mt. SAC in the final minute of the game only to see the Mounties drive the length of the field in the closing 58 seconds. On the final play of regulation, Mt. SAC threw a “hail Mary” in the end zone that was knocked down by a Saddleback defender, only to see interference called on the Gauchos. The Mounties would get one more play from the seven yard line, and score with 0:00 remaining on the clock for the win. Last season Saddleback looked like a team of destiny for three quarters, holding Mt. SAC to nine points over the first 45 minutes of the game. Unfortunately, things would unravel for the Gauchos in the final 15 minutes, with the Mounties scoring 29 points in a 12-minute span in turning back Saddleback, 38-34.
In 2012, both teams enter the season with high expectations. Saddleback opens the season ranked No. 17 in the country by JCGridiron.com while Mt. SAC enters as the top-ranked team in the country. Kickoff is set for 6:00pm with game-time temperatures expected to be in the high 70’s, drifting into the high 60’s by the end of the game.
 In addition to the game, the Eastbay “store-on-wheels” will be on hand from 5:00-10:00 pm, selling gear and displaying their products. Eastbay will give 20% off of all purchases of $100 or more from patrons of the game, with free shipping.
Game Information:
Mt. San Antonio (0-0) vs. Saddleback (0-0)
6:00 pm
Saddleback Stadium (The Snakepit)
JCGridiron.com Dirty 30 National Ranking:
Mt. SAC (1)
Saddleback (17)
Lifetime Series:
Mt. SAC leads 9-8
Media Coverage:
KSBR Radio (Saddleback College)
Social Media:
Twitter
7/31/12: Football commits nearing 30
 Two more players from the 2011 football team have laded scholarships to four-year institutions, giving the Gauchos 29 players moving on from last season’s squad. According to the football office, Luke Williams will play at Arizona State University and Christian Mejia will play at Midwestern State University after making commitments in the past two weeks.
Williams was a freshman safety this past season and was expected to return to the program for his sophomore season. That will now change, as Williams accepted a late offer from Arizona State, becoming the sixth Gaucho to transfer to a Pac 12 program in the past seven months. Williams finished with 15 tackles in seven games as a freshman in 2011, recording one interception. ASU is located in Tempe, Arizona, and plays in the Pac 12.
Mejia played in both 2009 and 2011, finishing his two-year career at Saddleback with 68 tackles, 13 tackles-for-loss and six sacks from the defensive tackle position. Mejia will play in the future at Midwestern State University, an NCAA D2 program in the Lone Star Conference. MSU is located in Wichita Falls, Texas.
The two recent commitments elevate the Saddleback total to 29 players moving on to four-year schools for the year, a staggering number given they had just 33 sophomores on the roster a season ago.
2011 Season Commitments (alphabetical order)
Dustin Alewine, DE, Trinity International University
David Belz, LB, Chapman College
Michael Bowlin, K, Washington State University
John Cardona, QB, Sterling College
Bryant Chirinos, DE, California Lutheran University
Kasey Closs, WR, Portland State
University
Chris Connolly, LB, Northern Arizona University
Zach Emde, QB, Northern State University
Ben Gomez, QB, Lindenwood University
James Hong, LB, University of Puget Sound
Jake Johnston, DB, Northern Arizona University
Keith Lawson, RB, Sterling College
Kevin Lindeman, DE, Winona State University
Kyle Long, OL, University of Oregon
Christian Mejia, DT, Midwestern State university
A.J. Merlino, LS/OC, University of Utah
James Poole, RB, University of Utah
Lorenzo Preston, RB, Southwest Baptist University
Brendan Rowland, P, East Carolina University
Jordan Runkel, OL, Eastern Oregon University
Kevin Schick, TE, Azusa Pacific University
David Skora, DL, University of Colorado
Courtlin Thompson, DB, Lamar University
Joshua Tinajero, OL, Southern Illinois
Maua Vole, DL, Jamestown University
Menelik Watson, OL, Florida State University
Luke Williams, S, Arizona State University
Rodney Woodland, WR, Texas State University
Darian Yahyavi, CB, Murray State University
4/28/12: Two former Gauchos taken in the NFL Draft
 Two former Saddleback Gauchos were drafted into the NFL on Saturday as both Aaron Brown and Richard Crawford were taken by NFL teams. Brown was selected with the second pick in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams while Crawford was selected with the sixth pick in the seventh round by the Washington Redskins.
Brown played for Saddleback in 2007 and 2008, leading the Gauchos both seasons in tackles. He finished with 116 tackles and five interceptions for Saddleback in two seasons before transferring to the University of Hawaii.
Crawford played for the Gauchos in 2008 and 2009, finishing with 40 tackles and six interceptions for his two-year career at Saddleback. He finished second in the state with six interceptions in 2009 before transferring to SMU.
Brown started 22 games at Hawaii and was named first team all-WAC in 2011 as a senior. He led the Warriors with 70 tackles in 2011 and finished with 153 tackles in two seasons at Hawaii.
Crawford started all 26 games at SMU and finished with 106 tackles and six interceptions for the Mustangs. He was an honorable mention all-Conference USA selection as a junior.
4/25/12: 2012 football schedule loaded with big games
 The 2012 football schedule is out and once again the Gauchos will have one of the tougher schedules in the state, if not the nation. Saddleback will face five programs that finished the season in the final national rankings, and eight that appeared in the national rankings throughout the 2011 campaign.
Saddleback will look to extend its Southern California-leading bowl appearance streak to 12 games after once again advancing to the post-season in 2011. If they are going to do it, however, it will be a battle every week as the Gauchos will face some of the elite programs in the country.
 Saddleback will open the 2012 season with a heavyweight battle against Mt. San Antonio College at home on September 1. The Gauchos and Mounties are likely to be the top game in the state heading into the early-season showdown, and have had some epic battles in recent years. Mt. San Antonio finished the 2011 campaign ranked No. 8 in the nation by JCGridiron.com.
 Game two will take Saddleback to College of the Canyons (Sept. 8), a program that won the state title in 2004 and has managed to beat Saddleback in 3-of-4 games they have played in their short history. Canyons finished the 2011 campaign unranked nationally.
 Saddleback will then face a Riverside program (on Sept. 15) that is clearly on the rise after losing just one time in the past two seasons. The Gauchos and Tigers faced off in the Southern California Bowl to finish the 2011 season, and Saddleback will be looking for revenge at home after falling at Riverside 31-14 in November. Riverside finished the 2011 season ranked No. 4 by JCGridiron.com.
 Following a bye week, Saddleback will open its conference schedule at home against Santa Ana College (Sept. 29), a program that head coach Mark McElroy has never lost to (11-0). The Gauchos hold a 24-5 advantage in the series history, but it didn’t come without some epic battles along the way. The most recent game was a thrilling 42-38 win in 2009, when Saddleback stormed back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Santa Ana finished the 2011 season unranked nationally, but did spend some time in the JCGridiron.com national rankings during the course of the season.
 The Gauchos will then have one more non-conference game at Ventura College on October 6. Saddleback has a 7-0 advantage lifetime against the Pirates, but the two programs have not met since playing in 2002. Ventura finished the 2011 season ranked No. 32 by JCGridiron.com after defeating College of the Desert in the Beach Bowl to finish the season.
 Some of the more exciting games in recent years have come against Fullerton College, where the Gauchos will travel to in week six (Oct. 13). Saddleback took a 14-13 lead in the lifetime series a season ago when they edged the Hornets 44-40 on a late touchdown, and the last five battles have all been decided by seven points or less. Fullerton finished the 2011 season unranked nationally, but were ranked as high as No. 14 after starting the season 5-0.
 Saddleback will return home for week seven to host Orange Coast (Oct. 20), a program the Gauchos have defeated in nine of the past 10 meetings. The Gauchos and Pirates have rolled up some big scores in recent years, including a 53-38 thriller in 2010. The Pirates finished the 2011 season unranked nationally.
 Saddleback’s playoff hopes likely died a season ago when they traveled to Escondido High School to face a Palomar College team that scored a late touchdown for a 44-41 win over the Gauchos. This season Saddleback will return to the scene of the crime on October 27, looking for revenge against the Comets. Saddleback holds a 23-13 edge in the lifelong series, and the Gauchos have won four of the last six battles since 2004. Palomar finished the season ranked No. 22 by JCGridiron.com.
 The Gauchos will then return home for their final regular season home game to face Grossmont College (Nov. 3), holding a 14-5-1 advantage in the lifetime series after beating the Griffins 37-23 last season. Grossmont won the state title in 2005, but finished the 2011 campaign unranked, nationally.
 The final regular season game will be a road game against Golden West College, played at Orange Coast College (Nov. 10). Although the two programs have split the last two games in the series, Saddleback holds a decisive 18-2-1 lead in the overall lifetime series. The Gauchos won 15 straight times from 1990 to 2006 against a Golden West program that struggled for a number of years. Recently, however, Golden West has gotten things turned around as they won a bowl game to finish the 2011 campaign and finished the season ranked No. 38 in the JCGridiron.com final rankings.
Saddleback enters the season having advanced to 11 straight bowl games, the longest such streak in Southern California. Head coach Mark McElroy (pictured above) is one win shy of 100 victories for his career, entering the season 99-44 (.692).
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