Gauchos snatch win over Griffins
In the conference football matchup on Saturday, Nov. 10, between the Saddleback College Gauchos and Grossmont College Griffins, the Gauchos hunted down the Griffins, 53-42 in San Diego.
This game was full of interceptions with a total of nine thrown between both teams.
Gaucho’s defense stood out in the game with six interceptions, lead by defensive backs Doug Ruggles and Davonte Merriweather both with two interceptions each.
“I did okay, you know, but the team really came together, we really rallied, we knew how big this game was, we really wanted to go to a bowl game, we’ve been 12 straight years, so we all rallied together we all played well,” Ruggles said. ‘It wasn’t a individual performance it was a team effort…we’re getting the ball back for our offense and we’re lining up better.”
Backs Trevor Douglass and Trent Perriman also picked the ball off in the matchup.
“The defensive backs played one of their better games, we gave up one or two just by accident, but I think overall they played a pretty good game,” Defense Back Coach Murtaugh said. “We got quite a few picks, we kind of prepped them up well they understood Grossmonts offense, so I think that really helped. We played smart and made good plays.”
Grossmonts‘ linebackers also played the ball well with a total of three interceptions between Christopher Collins, Sonny Samoata and Nick Koenig.
Griffins Defensive Back Coach Brett Hudson said the team played until the end of the game.
“I felt the guys competed well. I felt we played to the very end, the ball didn’t bounce our way everytime, but they didn’t quit,” Hudson said. “There is no quit in our team, we play to the end every time.”
Offensively Gauchos quarterback Tim Belman threw an aerial assault with nine different receivers, throwing a total of four touchdowns and 485 passing yards, a season high, (38-61). Yet Belman did manage to throw three interceptions, also a season high.
Wide receiver Devven Ramos had eight receptions gaining 210 yards, with a long of 73 yards and one touchdown. Receivers RJ Dedrick, Chris French, and R.J. Kelly all worked for a touchdown each as well.
Griffins quarterback William Abt had a high number game as well with 462 yards in the air, five touchdowns, six interceptions, also throwing to 12 different receivers.
The Gauchos next game will be the last of the regular season, home against Golden West College at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.