Bobcats pitch first shutout in 17+ years

The Saddleback football team picked up its fifth win of the season with a 44-0 victory over Grossmont College on Saturday night inside the stadium.  The Bobcats held a 600-38 advantage in total yards in what was the first shutout in 17 years.

Saddleback started fast on Saturday, scoring on the first play from scrimmage when Trey Kukuk found Marques Carrillo Edgar for a 58-yard touchdown pass.  It gave the Bobcats a lead they would never relinquish.  Saddleback scored three minutes later when Kukuk found Dane Benedix for a 51-yard touchdown.  It was part of a first half where the Bobcats rolled up 362 yards of offense.

Saddleback made the score 24-0 when Nicky Johnson found Dane Benedix on a 16-yard scoring play.  The Bobcats tacked on seven more points in the final minutes of the half when Johnson found Carrillo Edgar on a crossing pattern for a 9-yard score.  It gave Saddleback a 31-0 lead heading to the locker room.

Saddleback opened the second half by scoring on its opening drive.  The Bobcats scored in four plays after Kukuk raced 44 yards down the sideline, breaking a pair of tackles along the way.  It gave Saddleback a 38-0 lead with 13:10 remaining in the third quarter.

Saddleback tacked on another score when Chase Christner ran 16 yards for a score.  Christner covered about 50 yards on the play, running left before cutting back to the right and racing for the pylon. 

Saddleback used the rest of the game to get some fresh uniforms into the game.  The Bobcat defense performed well in keeping the Griffins scoreless.  Saddleback picked off Grossmont quarterback Johnny Mosti two times.  The last came on the final play of the game when Patrick Bassily intercepted Mosti and returned it 54 yards before being tackled a yard shy of the goal line.

Saddleback's shutout was the first for the program since shutting out Mt. San Jacinto, 52-0, on opening day of the 2007 season.  The Bobcats did get another shutout on a technicality with a 1-0 shutout of San Bernardino Valley on a forfeit to end the 2022 campaign, but this was the first in a 60-minute game since the victory over MSJC.

Saddleback finished with 344 yards passing and 256 yards rushing for a total of 600 yards for the game.  Kukuk finished with 220 yards passing on 14-of-19 passes for two scores through the air.  He also led the team with 88 yards rushing.  Carrillo Edgar finished with a team-high 100 yards receiving on five catches. 

Saddleback's defense was led by Dominic Lopez, who finished with eight total tackles to lead the team.  In addition to the Bassily interception, T.J. Griffin also recorded an interception in the fourth quarter.

Saddleback is now 5-2 overall and 3-1 in National Division Southern League play.  The Bobcats host Riverside City College (6-1, 4-0) next Saturday.  The Bobcats and Tigers are set to start at 6:00 PM inside the stadium.