Bobcats even record

The Saddleback football team picked up its first win of the season with a 38-24 victory over Santa Barbara City College on Saturday night inside the stadium.  The Bobcats rolled up 469 yards of offense in the win.

Saddleback and Santa Barbara both came into the game desperate for a win after losing their opening games of the 2024 season last weekend.  The Bobcats left with a better taste in their mouth after evening their record at 1-1.

Saddleback started quickly, going on a 12-play drive to open the game and cashing in when Trey Kukuk found Chase Christner for a 9-yard score.  Unfortunately, the Bobcats went quiet on offense over the next 18.5 minutes in falling behind 17-10.

Saddleback's deficit didn't last long.  The Bobcats scored on the very first play after Santa Barbara had taken the lead.  Nicky Johnson found Omarjaye Black (pictured) wide open and Black sprinted 75 yards for the score.  One drive later, Johnson hit Will Craven in stride on the third play of the drive and Craven dashed 69 yards to take a 24-17 lead.

Santa Barbara would never get even the rest of the way.  The Bobcats scored midway through the third quarter when they decided to go for it on fourth and 15 from the Vaquero 35-yard line.   Kukuk hit Dane Benedix in stride, and Benedix found his way to the end zone for a 31-17 advantage.

Santa Barbara kept things close, scoring on their opening drive of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to seven.  Later in the quarter the Bobcats received a big play from the defense when Jackson Irwin stepped in front of a Will Doherty pass when Santa Barabara looked as if it was going in for a tying score.  The big play seemed to inspire the offense, who proceeded to go on an 11-play drive to seal the game.  Chase Christner blasted his way across the goal line for a one-yard score as Saddleback increased the lead to 38-24 with only 3:56 remaining on the clock. 

The Saddleback defense then put away the game, stifling the Santa Barabara offense on its next drive before the offense ran out on the field to run out the clock in the final minutes.

Saddleback finished with 359 yards from the passing game.  Kukuk was 14-of-21 for 207 yards and two touchdown passes while Johnson finished 3-for-6 for 152 yards and two scores.  Omarjaye Black caught three balls for 131 yards and one score, but perhaps his biggest play of the game came on the final scoring drive when he broke free from defenders on third and six for a 33-yard play to continue the drive.  Kukuk led the rushing game with 40 yards on eight carries.

Saddleback's defense had a handful of big plays, recording two interceptions.  Brennen Acosta led the team with six total tackles, one tackle-for-loss and one pass break-up.  Jackson Hagopian and Joseph Malfavon both had five tackles apiece.  Jackson Irwin caused a ton of disruption, finishing with three quarterback hurries. 

Saddleback will play at Antelope Valley College next Saturday at 6:00 PM.