Gaucho win streak hits three

The Saddleback football team rolled to a 54-38 win at Golden West College on Saturday in Huntington Beach.  The Gauchos are now 3-0 in Southern League play with two games remaining.

Saddleback is getting hot and the offense appears to finding its footing at the right time of the year.  The Gauchos had 516 yards of offense on Saturday, putting up their biggest scoring outburst of the season.

Saddleback rode the hot arm of quarterback Robbie Patterson and the legs of wide receiver Austin Derrico.  The two combined for three touchdowns, edging close to some program records in the process.

Patterson finished 28-of-38 for 417 yards and five touchdown passes.  The 417-yard day ranks 14^th all-time in program history and the five touchdown passes in a game was one shy of a record set by Tim Belman (2012 & 2013) and Brian Shrock (2008).  If that wasn't enough, Patterson led the team with 63 rushing yards on 10 carries, totaling 480 yards of total offense. 

Patterson's favorite target was Derrico, who finished with five receptions for 180 yards and three scores.  Derrico had four catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the opening half as Golden West had no answers in the secondary.  His three touchdown receptions was one shy of a program record set by Eric Lauderdale in 2013.

Saddleback wasn't without its heroics on defense.  Although they surrendered 38 points, the Gauchos had three interceptions on the day.  The first interception was from Segun Olubi, who returned it 25 yards for a score to put the Gauchos up 23-14 late in the opening quarter.  Turner Tonkovich led the Gauchos with seven tackles and two tackles-for-loss while Rudy Bukassa, Chase Bradley, Jadon Digravio and Austin Godges combined for one sack and four quarterback hurries. 

Saddleback has now won three straight games for the first time this season and stands at 5-3 overall and 3-0 in National Division Southern League play.  The Gauchos entered Saturday in a tie for first place in league play with Riverside City College, who plays at home tonight against Southwestern College.  The Gauchos will meet the Tigers in two weeks in what could decide the league title. 

Next week Saddleback plays its final home game of the regular season when it hosts Grossmont College.  Game time next Saturday is scheduled for 6:00 PM at Mission Viejo High School.