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Saddleback College Athletics

Cats growl at Rustlers in OEC play

Up next is a rematch with Cypress next Thursday at Irvine Valley College

An action-oriented graphic showing the Saddleback Bobcats women's flag football team celebrating on the sidelines. The players and coaches are dressed in maroon and gold athletic gear. The background shows an outdoor stadium during the late afternoon. Key Data & Text The graphic includes a score overlay at the bottom with the following details: Final Score: Saddleback (20) vs. Golden West (7). Team Records: Saddleback is 16-2; Golden West is 6-5. Score Breakdown by Quarter: SC (Saddleback): 0, 7, 6, 7 | Total: 20 GW (Golden West): 0, 7, 0, 0 | Total: 7
image c/o Ben Kokkelenberg
Video Box Score
April 3, 2026

The Saddleback flag football team bounced back from a disappointing loss last week with a 20-7 victory over Golden West College on Thursday afternoon inside the stadium.  All four teams have identical 2-2 records in Orange Empire Conference play with two games remaining.

Saddleback and Golden West started slowly as neither team was able to advance the ball deep into the other team's territory over the first 1.5 quarters of the game.  The Bobcats finally broke through midway through the second quarter when Brooklee Harris guided the Bobcats down the field and found Grace Goedhart on a two-yard pass to give Saddleback a 7-0 lead.

Golden West found its footing late in the half when they broke off a big play in getting deep into Saddleback territory.  The Rustlers cashed in when quarterback Ella Feldhaus called her own number and ran five yards for a score with 1:44 left on the clock to tie the game.

Saddleback had one last chance and drove down the field in the final seconds, scoring what appeared to be a go-ahead score when Harris found Goedhart on the final play of the half on a 19-yard dart.  The score was called back, however, as a result of an offensive penalty and the teams headed to the locker rooms tied.

Saddleback took the lead for good at the halfway point of the third quarter when Kirra Clavijo led the team down the field and found Olivia Green for a seven-yard score.  The Bobcats missed the extra point and led 13-7 with 7:12 left in the quarter.

Saddleback put the game away in the fourth quarter.  The Bobcats drove down the field and scored when Harris ran five yards for a touchdown for a 20-7 with only 7:31 remaining on the clock. 

From that point forward, Saddleback's defense salted the game away.  The Bobcats put a stamp on things when Makayla Velasquez picked off Feldhaus in the final minutes of the game.

Saddleback is now 16-2 overall and 2-2 in Orange Empire Conference (OEC) play.  All four teams are now tied at 2-2 in the OEC standings with two games remaining on the schedule before the OEC Tournament. 

Saddleback will play again when they face Cypress College at Irvine Valley College next Thursday.  The Bobcats and Chargers are scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM next Thursday at IVC.