CATS WIN FIRST-EVER OEC FLAG FOOTBALL GAME

The Saddleback women's flag football team won the first Orange Empire Conference (OEC) game in history by defeating Golden West College, 7-6, on Thursday at Irvine Valley College. The Bobcats are now 14-0 for the season.

Saddleback and Golden West made history on Thursday as the OEC became the first conference in the state to have an organized schedule of games for flag football. Following the Saddleback and Golden West game was a matchup between Irvine Valley College and Cypress College.

Despite the lofty record entering the contest, Saddleback had its hands full against a Golden West program that has been playing great football in its first season and ranked No. 10 in the nation according to the JCGridiron.com Filthy 20 National JUCO Flag Football Rankings. 

Golden West took the lead in the early part of the second quarter when they drove down the field and scored with eight minutes left on the clock in the opening half. Facing a third down and goal situation, quarterback Ella Feldhaus called her own number behind a wall of players and ran four yards for the opening score of the game.  Golden West would miss the extra point and lead 6-0.

Saddleback finally got on the scoreboard in the second half following a defensive stand where Golden West had an opportunity to take a two-score lead. The Bobcats finally broke through when Kirra Clavijo threaded the needle on a ball between two defenders and Talita Robinson took it 50 yards for a score to tie the game at 6-6. Clavijo then called her own number and beat defenders to the right pylon for the extra point and a 7-6 lead. 

Saddleback's defense came up big in the opening of the fourth quarter when Golden West started with the ball in Bobcat territory. Golden West could not get a first down and was forced to punt and give the ball back to the Saddleback offense.

Saddleback then generated a long drive that ate up a lot of clock. The Bobcats made good on a third and 18 play when Brooklee Harris found Olivia Green for a 25-yard pass play to advance the ball to the Golden West 13-yard line.  The Cats would get the ball to the Rustler 10-yard line before the drive would stall, but were successful in running a bunch of time off the clock in the process.

Saddleback's defense again came up big on the next drive as Makayla Velasquez picked off a pass near midfield and returned it inside the Golden West 20 yard-line. The Bobcats would then run out the clock in winning the first conference football game of the season.

Saddleback is now 14-0 on the season and 1-0 in Orange Empire Conference play following the win. The Bobcats will play again next Thursday at Cypress College at 4:30 PM.  Golden West is 4-4 overall and will play Irvine Valley next Thursday (3PM) at Cypress. 

NOTE:  Cypress defeated Irvine Valley 25-18 in the second game of the day.

Story by Brad Hoiseth, Saddleback College