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Dons Upset Bid Falls Short in Loss to Saddleback
SANTA ANA, CA - The Santa Ana College football team took a 38-21 lead into the fourth quarter before Saddleback College mounted a comeback to defeat the Dons 42-38 in the first Southern Conference game of the season.
The Dons (3-2, 0-1) jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead three minutes into the game when Jaron Hytche broke free from the Gauchos defense with a 39-yard touchdown run.
Saddleback (5-0, 1-0) answered even quicker when Dominique Vinson returned the ensuing kickoff 90-yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. Vinson then gave the Gauchos their first lead at 14-7 early in the second quarter with a 22-yard touchdown reception from David Ingram.
Saddleback extended its lead later in the quarter when Jai Morris scored from 13-yards out to put the Gauchos up 21-7. The touchdown capped off a seven play, 55-yard drive for Saddleback.
The Dons came back late in the half to pull within 21-17 before half time with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Thomas to Dominique Williams and a 27-yard field goal from Chase Lansford with eight seconds left.
Trailing 21-17, the Dons dominated the third quarter and outscored Saddleback 21-0 to take a 38-21 lead. Thomas threw his second touchdown pass of the game, this time to Julius Macharia from 43-yards out to give the Dons a 24-21 lead.
Halfway through the quarter, Thomas connected with Dakota Hopkins on a 20-yard touchdown pass followed by his third touchdown pass of the quarter, fourth of the game, finding Mario Pineda from five-yards out.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Dons had outscored the Gauchos 31-0 since the eight minute mark in the second quarter while holding Saddleback to 40 rushing yards and 104 passing yards.
Saddleback's comeback started with 10 minutes remaining in the game when the Gauchos went on an eight play, 22-yard drive that took 2:51 capped off by a Morris touchdown reception from Ingram.
On the first play of the Gauchos next possession, Ingram was flushed out of the pocket and seemed to be headed out of bounds before cutting back inside and running for a 70-yard touchdown to pull Saddleback within three at 38-35.
On the Dons ensuing possession, Thomas was intercepted by Temeni Brewster on the first play of the drive. Two plays later, T.J. Knowles lateraled to Aziz Spellman-Smith on an 11-yard reception. Spellman-Smith took the lateral and ran 70-yards down to the Dons 11 yard line.
Ingram connected with Knowles a few plays later for a 12-yard touchdown reception for the game-winning touchdown. The Gauchos rushed for 76 yards in the quarter and threw for another 118 yards while outscoring the Dons 21-0.
Thomas finished the game 18-of-34 passing with four touchdown passes and three interception. Hytche led the Dons rushing with 74 yards on 11 carries and Johnny Privitelli was the leading receiver with 94 yards on four catches.
Next: Santa Ana at Orange Coast,
Saturday, October 10 at 6:00 pm |
