Saddleback football team forfeits league opener with Orange due to lack of players

Some Saddleback players warm up before the game with La Quinta earlier this season. (Photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Saddleback High School’s football team has forfeited its Orange Coast League opener Friday vs. Orange at Segerstrom because of the lack of healthy players on the roster, CIF and school officials said Monday.

The forfeit is due to “safety concern on a lack of available players,” said Thom Simmons, assistant CIF commissioner.

Orange receives a victory and Saddleback a loss, Simmons added.

Saddleback went into the season short-handed and inexperienced with a number of sophomores starting and has sustained some injuries, according to Athletic Director Rob Thompson.

“We’re down to 19 players on varsity and half of those are sophomores with little playing experience,” Thompson said. “It’s not safe for our kids and it would be demoralizing to play.”

Orange (2-3) is expected to battle for the Orange Coast League title.

The Panthers next game is Friday, Sept. 22 at Fred Kelly Stadium vs. St. Margaret’s.

Saddleback (0-4) is scheduled to play Calvary Chapel Thursday, Sept 21 at Segerstrom in a Calvary Chapel home game.

“As long as I get my injured players back, we should be good,” said first-year Coach Paige Nobles.

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