Sooooo close!

The Saddleback football team lost to San Diego Mesa College, 21-20, on Saturday night inside the Saddleback Stadium in the Southern League opener.  The Bobcats hit the goal post on a 50-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds to fall to 0-1 in league play.

Saddleback and San Diego Mesa both had one half of football where they looked like a dominating force.  The Bobcats dominated a first half that also had a 40-minute delay due to lightning in the area.  The Olympians racked up close to 260 yards of offense in the second half in storming back to take the lead in the final minute of regulation.

In the end, Saddleback had a chance to win the game with nine seconds remaining and the ball sitting on the Mesa 33-yard line.  On fourth and 13, the Bobcats had a tough decision to make.  Either they try a lengthy field goal or attempt to get a first down and get out of bounds before the clock strikes zero.  Following a timeout from San Diego Mesa, Saddleback opted for door number one.  The Bobcats then saw a field goal attempt from Connor Grace bounce off the right goal post on a kick that looked as if it would have been good from 60 yards. 

Saddleback completely controlled play in the opening half, allowing just 28 yards of offense to the Olympians.  The game was halted at the beginning of the second quarter when lightning ripped through the area and forced the players and fans to take cover.  After returning, the Bobcats took a 10-0 lead when Branden Berwald raced six yards for a score on the first play from scrimmage.

Saddleback added 10 more points late in the half to take a 20-0 lead into the locker rooms.  Jamari Ferrell had a 6-yard score with 3:21 left in the half before Grace connected on his second field goal of the half from 39 yards with 2:04 remaining. 

Berwald (pictured) finished with 177 yards passing and led Saddleback with 92 yards rushing in 14 attempts.  Jack St. Fleur led the defense with eight total tackles, two tackles-for-loss and one pass break-up.

Saddleback (1-5, 0-1) will host Golden West College (5-1, 1-0) next Saturday for homecoming.  The Bobcats and Rustlers are scheduled to start at 6:00 PM inside the stadium.