Saddleback players celebrate as the alma mater is played by the band. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Saddleback High School football players and coaches were jubilant Friday night after the Roadrunners defeated Morningside of Inglewood 44-0 ending the program’s 19-game losing streak.
A big turnout of Saddleback fans turned out to watch the team’s first home game.
After a meeting with coaches, Roadrunner players lined up to thank the fans in the stands after the game.
Saddleback was 0-10 last year but first-year coach Rob Thompson, back for his second tenure as head coach, is hoping Friday’s win is the start of something big.
To see additional photos, click on the first picture:
It’s been a rough few years for the program. Saddleback teams had lost 19 in a row dating back to the third week of the 2022 season, when it won is first two games. Saddleback lost its 2024 opener last week to Tri-City Christian, 12-9.
“I told the kids we’re 1-0 now, we’re no longer 0-18 (from the past two years) which we were …. we’re 1-0 and we’re moving ahead,” Thompson said. “We got to keep a positive outlook and the kids are working hard and they’re coming to practice and they’re finally enjoying football.
“It’s been a long time, people start talking and they (his players) hear the chirping, so it’s exciting.”
The Roadrunners jumped out to a 23-0 lead at halftime and increased the lead in the second half against an out-manned Morningside team which suited just 16 players.
Saddleback was led by junior running back Fabian Bravo who rushed for 97 yards on 10 carries and scored on a 14-yard TD in the second quarter to put the Roadrunners ahead 16-0.
“This win means a lot to us,” said Bravo, who was on last year’s team. “Last season we faced a lot of adversity. I’m just thankful to my coaches and my teammates for really trying this year.”
Bravo said the players have “bought in; everything is different.”
The touchdown stood out.
“I followed my blockers, a big part of this win was our line, thanks to our coach, they’ve been putting in the work and I’m just thankful for my line,” Bravo said.
Saddleback’s first score was recorded by the defense when Christopher Romero tackled the Morningside quarterback in the end zone for a safety. It was the second week in a row that Saddleback started the game with a safety,
Junior quarterback Andre Scott then scored on a 1-yard TD later in the quarter to give Saddleback a 9-0 lead. Scott had another QB keeper for a TD later in the half to make it 23-0.
Scott connected with Joseph Torres on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to extend the led to 30-0. JD Zuniga scored on an 8-yard TD and Andrew Alvarez scored on an 12-yard run to complete the scoring.
Scott, a transfer from Magnolia, was effective running the Roadrunners offense, passing for 60 yards on three completions.
“We’re a running team, we can pass too if we have to because we have a good quarterback, Andre Scott,” Thompson said. “Tonight, we didn’t really have to show a lot of our new stuff and we didn’t have to.”
Saddleback’s defense was dominant against Morningside (0-2) which had just 10 yards passing. A running clock was used for part of the third quarter and the final stanza.
The Roadrunners are hoping the victory sends them in the right direction.
“The goals for the season are to make it to the playoffs and to keep on winning and to just keep growing from here,” Bravo said
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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