Gauchos to contend against Dons in So Cal conference opener
Sophomore sensation Tim Belman releases a pass in the pocket as pressure is applied (Brad Hoiseth)
This week features the Saddleback College Gauchos, sitting on a national ranking of No. 30, take a trip to Santa Ana where they will face-off against the Dons for their Homecoming game to open up the Southern Conference action.
Saddleback comes into the game looking to be the favorite to win at No. 3 in the Southern Conference in scoring with 34.3 points per game. Taking the Gauchos to success is sophomore sensation Tim Belman, currently No. 1 in the conference, throwing a whopping 392.7 yards per game, thus helping the team climb to a No. 3 ranking in yards per game (481.7).
As for the Gaucho defense is concerned, they have amounted seven interceptions on the season, which has them atop the Southern Conference, now how’s that to make a quarterback second-guess a pass?
Saddleback is also number one in the conference in fewest penalty yards per game averaging a meager 55.7 yards. However, the Dons of Santa Ana come in with the No. 3 defense led by sophomore safety Doyin Sule.
The Dons come to prove they are no slouches, averaging 318.8 yards per game behind, true freshman Shane Truelove, putting them at No. 5 in the conference. The Dons have a great average of penalty yards per game, averaging a scant 68.8 yards.
Players to watch for the Gauchos would be sophomore quarterback Tim Belman and wide out Eric Lauderdale, a University of Tennessee commit, who has missed the beginning of the season due to injury.
My pick to win the game, Saddleback College, if Belman has a good night they will win big ending result in the vicinity of 42-20.