October 6, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

Saddleback counting on big contributions from young players in coach’s first season

Saddleback players with Coach Paige Nobles at the new on-campus stadium. (Photo courtesy Saddleback football).

Saddleback High School’s football team, led by first-year coach Paige Nobles, has been working hard in preparation for the season opener Friday night, Aug. 18 vs. Godinez at Santa Ana Valley.

Saddleback returns six varsity players from last year’s team that was 2-8 overall under former Coach Glenn Campbell.

“We will be a very young team made up with mostly sophomore players,” Nobles said this week. “We will be a very young team without a lot of playing experience at the varsity level but I for one am very excited to see these players play on Friday night. We may be a young team but we will be very scrappy.”

“The returning senior players from last season’s team will be wide receiver turned quarterback Adam Castenada, offensive lineman/linebacker Paul Ramirez, lineman Jason Gallardo, wide receiver Amos Alas and wide receiver Noe Ceja.

“We have a strong junior class with running back/linebacker Joseph Torres, offensive lineman/defensive end Daniel Rodriguez and Bryan Muniz at wide receiver.”

Sophomores will play key roles for the Roadrunners, Nobles said.

The sophomores are, “linebacker Josiah Pedrosa, defensive back/wide receiver Fabian Bravo, defensive back/running back Favian Soria, defensive back/wide receiver Angel Figueroa, Ralph Vargas anchoring our line at center and playing offensive line/defensive line Pablo Guadarram,” Nobles said.

Nobles is a former head coach at Northwood High School who has been an assistant coach at Dana Hills the past two seasons.

Saddleback will be playing in its new on-campus athletic facility this season.

2023 SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 18, vs. Godinez at Santa Ana Valley

Friday, Aug. 25, at Century

Thursday, Aug. 31, at La Quinta at Bolsa Grande

Friday, Sept. 15, (H) vs. Orange at Segerstrom

Thursday, Sept. 21, at Calvary Chapel at Segerstrom

Friday, Sept. 29, (H) vs. Costa Mesa

Friday, Oct. 6, at Estancia

Friday, Oct. 13, at Santa Ana

Friday, Oct. 20, (H) vs. St. Margaret’s

Friday, Oct. 27, (H) vs. LB Wilson

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—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com