Cats outlast Lasers in first home game

The Saddleback flag football team defeated Irvine Valley College, 19-12, on Friday at Saddleback.  The Bobcats held on for the win in the final minutes.

Saddleback was hosting its first-ever game in flag football and it turned out to be a thriller.  The Bobcats never trailed but had to hang on for the win.

Saddleback led 19-0 at one point before Irvine Valley came storming back to make a game of it.  The Bobcats then made a stop on fourth and goal with under a minute remaining to hang on for the win.

Saddleback was quick out of the gate, scoring twice in the opening quarter to take a 13-0 lead.  Kirra Clavijo hit Grace Goedhart with a 37-yard touchdown score with 7:50 left in the quarter as the Bobcats took a 7-0 lead.  Clavijo then hit Anelly Alba in stride on a deep pattern along the sidelines and Alba raced 41 yards for a 13-0 lead.

Saddleback opened up a 19-0 lead with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter when Clavijo connected for a second time with Goedhart for an 18-yard touchdown.  The Bobcats again missed the extra point but had a 19-0 lead with time winding down in the third quarter.

Irvine Valley started to show life in the fourth quarter as they drove down the field and scored with 9:10 remaining when Mia Lacy found Crystal Cervantes for a 3-yard score.  IVC missed the extra point and the Saddleback lead stood at 19-6. 

The Lasers then made things interesting in the final minutes when Lacy hooked up with Chase Dionio for a 16-yard touchdown with 1:18 remaining. 

Saddleback had a chance to run out the clock, but then had a pass ricochet off an intended receiver into the hands of an Irvine Valley defender inside the 20-yard line with under a minute remaining.  The Lasers had four opportunities to score, but couldn't get into the end zone as the clock was winding down.  The Bobcats then ran one play on offense as the clock expired.

Saddleback is now 8-2 overall following the win while Irvine Valley dropped to 5-3 with the loss.   The Bobcats will play next in a tournament at Redlands College next Friday.  Saddleback opens the tournament against the host team at 2:00 PM. 

BOX SCORE:
7:50 Q1: Clavijo 37-yard pass to Goedhart (X pt Good) 7-0 SC
2:05 Q1: Clavijo 41-yard pass to Alba (X pt no good) 13-0 SC
5:10 Q3: Clavijo 18-yard pass to Goedhart (X pt no good) 19-0 SC
9:10 Q4: Lacy 3-yard pass to Cervantes (X pt no good) 19-6 SC
1:18 Q4: Lacy 16-yard pass to Dionio (X pt no good) 19-12 SC