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.