Saddleback pounces on Glendale to debut new sports complex

Saddleback’s new sports complex on September 4. Tucker Wagoner/Lariat

The Saddleback football team triumphed in their season opener Saturday night, Sept. 4. The Bobcats utilized their young core to defeat the Glendale Vaqueros. 

The final score was 58-12.

Sophomore running back, Andrew Wimmer, had the Bobcats off to a hot start with a 73-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game. The San Diego Mesa transfer led the rush attack with 105 yards on 12 attempts. 

“He’s been a very dynamic addition to our program, he played well along with all of our backs,” said Coach Kerry Crabb. 

Wimmer wasn’t the only young back to make his mark on the Bobcats’ new field.

The Bobcats established their dominance in the run-game with 293 rushing yards, compared to Glendale’s 94. Coach Crabb used a committee of runners to help defeat the Vaqueros, over ten players contributed to the 293 rushing yards for the Bobcats. 

“I’m a little bit more committed to the run,” said Coach Crabb. “I think it’s the cliche: the run opens up the passing game and the passing game can open up the run game. We’ve been pretty balanced with a slight commitment to running.” 

After 15 years assisting Coach McElroy, who is now retired, Crabb was able to control the game in his debut as the head coach. 

“It’s always fulfilling,” said Crabb on his first win as a head coach. “As the first team to come out and play, it was great. It was really nice.” 

Drew Nash, the starting quarterback from South Torrance High School, displayed his accuracy by completing 15-of-23 passes for 184 yards and 1 touchdown. He also rushed for 26 yards. 

“It felt great,” Nash said. “We came out and had a great game plan. We came out firing and the scoreboard turned out our way.”

The receivers were also a large factor in Saturday night’s win. They posted 251 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the team’s first win. Sophomore Kalynd Coats, from De La Salle High School, flashed his speed with a 44-yard touchdown reception. 

The Bobcat defense stepped up in the season-opening win. They held Glendale to 132 total yards, leaving them in the dust with just twelve points. Freshman defensive back, Steven Gushiken, led the Bobcat defense with four solo defensive tackles. 

Moving forward, the Bobcats face a tough slate of teams. Their next three opponents, Mt. San Antonio, Riverside and East Los Angeles are all top-ten ranked teams. 

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