Saddleback football coach looks for consistency and trust from Roadrunners

Saddleback Coach Glenn Campbell meets with his players during a timeout last season. (Photo: OC Sports Zone, Fernando M. Donado).

Saddleback High School’s football team hopes to keep building under second-year coach Glenn Campbell.

The Roadrunners open the season Friday night with a non-league game at Century.

Saddleback won its first two games last season and started out 3-1 but wound up finishing 3-7 overall and 0-5 in the Orange Coast League.

Campbell said the Roadrunners’ goals for this season are: “Consistency, trust, dealing with adversity and playing for the team.”

Saddleback made some progress during the summer, said Campbell, a former football standout at the school.

“We had a great summer, team building and building trust with everyone coaches included,” he said. “I believe they are starting to understand football, our concepts and what our objectives are on all phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams.”

Senior Donavan Castellanos, who will play quarterback and defensive back and is also a specialist, is expected to lead the squad.

Campbell is looking for big seasons from a number of other players.

“Joey Wilson, Ellion Lemon and Rafael Rosales will lead the secondary and receivers with Luis Lopez who also playing an important role as receiver and linebacker,” Campbell said.

“Tony Morales will lead the Roadrunners in the backfield at running back and will also be in the secondary, Jeremias Cotoc will be sharing the load with Isiah Hernandez. Both will also be playing on the other side of the ball as well. Hernandez will start at middle linebacker and Cotoc will be on the defensive line.

“Anthony Suarez will spearhead the offensive and defensive lines with Alan Avalos, Isiah Gonzalez and several other players.”    

Saddleback plays its home games at Segerstrom High School.

2022 Schedule:

Friday, Aug. 26, at Century

Friday, Sept. 2 (H), vs. La Quinta

Friday, Sept. 9, (H), vs. Los Amigos

Friday, Sept. 16, at Orange (El Modena)

Thursday, Sept. 22, (H) vs. Calvary Chapel

Friday, Sept. 30, at Costa Mesa

Friday, Oct. 7, (H) vs. Estancia

Thursday, Oct. 13, (H) vs. Santa Ana

Friday, Oct. 21, at St. Margaret’s

Friday, Oct. 28, at Long Beach Wilson

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