Saddleback Rides Tagaloa’s Big Performance

HUNTINGTON BEACH —  Saddleback running back Joseph Tagaloa rushed for 149 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 21-14 victory over Ocean View in a Golden West League game Friday night at Huntington Beach High.

Tagaloa capped a 12-play, 60-yard drive on Saddleback’s opening series to give the Roadrunners a 7-0 lead with 3 minutes 40 seconds left in the first quarter. Saddleback (3-3, 1-0) increased the margin to 14-0 on a nine-yard scoring pass from quarterback Sal Pedroza to wide receiver Derrick Barnes with 4:45 left in the first half.

Ocean View (0-6, 0-1) broke a 10-quarter scoring drought when quarterback Scott McMahan hit fullback Matt Trice on a slant for a 53-yard scoring play with 2:22 left in the second quarter.

Saddleback opened the second half with an eight-play, 72-yard drive capped by Tagaloa’s second touchdown, this one a one-yard run. The Seahawks closed the gap to 21-14 on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 17-yard pass from McMahan to wide receiver David Hatch.

Ocean View had a chance to win or tie, getting the ball on its 48 with 3:56 remaining, but turned the ball over on downs with 2:12 left, and the Roadrunners ran out the clock.

Pedroza threw for a season-high 128 yards with 11 completions in 18 attempts and one interception.