Saddleback to open season with eight or nine sophomore starters, first year coach says

New Roadrunner coach Paige Nobles at the new Saddleback athletic complex, is looking forward to his first season. (Photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Saddleback High School’s new football coach Paige Nobles is aware of the program’s rich history, which included a CIF title in 1985 under Coach Jerry Witte.

But Nobles also knows he’s taking over a program that has struggled recently. The program’s last winning season was in 2015 when the team was 6-5 overall under former coach Rob Thompson, now the athletic director.

Saddleback was 2-8 overall last season under former Roadrunner star Glenn Campbell, who resigned after two seasons.

“These kids have something to prove,” Nobles said during an interview at the new Saddleback athletic complex.

Nobles is turning to somewhat of a youth movement to try and move the program in the right direction.

“We’re going to be a young team. I’m going to be starting eight or nine sophomores. We do have 13 seniors and a handful of juniors,” he said. “To me, looking forward, this program will change and I think especially next year when we jump into the new leagues, there is no reason why we can’t be competitive, especially with the group that we have this year.

“I wish I had the crystal ball, but I always look at the positives of these kids. They went 2-8 last year, I don’t (know) why we can’t go 5-5. There are some really good teams in our league, the three powerhouses that everyone knows, Orange, Santa Ana and St. Margaret’s, those are the three teams we got to beat if we’re going to be competitive.

“The other teams, Costa Mesa, Estancia and Calvary Chapel, they are just as competitive. I’m hoping these kids realize they have value and that’s what we’re trying to let them know. Just because someone gets 14 up on us … we’re going to be fighting until it shows all zeroes in the fourth quarter.”

Nobles is looking for a sophomore, running back/linebacker Josiah Pedroza, to lead the team.

“This is the first time I’ve ever had a sophomore varsity captain,” he said. “This kid is a leader. First time I met him on campus, he was one of the first kids I met and I said, ‘this kid is going to be special.’ He reminds me a lot of Adam Harper (from Northwood) and you know how special Adam was.

“And to be picked by his peers as a captain was incredible,so that showed me a lot that these kids also believe in him. And the voice he has on the field is incredible.”

Saddleback’s quarterback will likely be Adam Casteneda, who joined the program as a wide receiver. It will be his first season playing quarterback.

“He’s picking it up the best he can and is doing what I’m asking him to do,” Nobles said.

He’s also excited about the Roadrunners’ offensive line.

“Our line, I think, is probably going to be I think one of the best lines in this league,” Nobles said. “My line is averaging around 265. I’ve never been a run team, but with that line, we will see what happens. We’re still going to try and be balanced but it’s going to be very exciting to watch these kids and unleash them and see what they can do.”

Nobles, who led Northwood to an 8-3 record in 2019 in his only season as a head coach, is excited to be back as a head coach. He spent the last couple years as an assistant coach at Dana Hills.

“It’s exciting times,” he said.

Being able to coach in a new stadium was an attraction for Nobles. The on-campus facility is scheduled to be opened in September.

“Who doesn’t want to coach in a brand-new stadium,” he said, adding he hopes it will help build the program’s numbers back up, instead of potential players joining other football programs in Santa Ana.

“I’m hoping with the new stadium that will get a lot of those kids back,” he said. “We’ve got a really good group of incoming freshmen (37), the biggest class they’ve ever had.”

Saddleback’s first game of the season is Friday, Aug. 18 vs. Godinez at Santa Ana Valley.

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