Jaguars’ playoff ambitions at stake

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 29, 2026

2026 COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

CHULA VISTA — Southwestern College has earned meaningful football on Halloween. Now the Jaguars have an opportunity to make November even more interesting.

No. 6 Southwestern hosts No. 3 Saddleback at noon Saturday at DeVore Stadium, matching two 7-1 teams whose only losses came against state No. 1 Riverside.

Both are 4-1 in the National Southern League, one game behind the unbeaten Tigers with two regular-season games remaining. Saturday’s winner will strengthen its case for the six-team Southern California regional playoff field while handing a fellow contender a second loss.

The showdown leads a three-game county schedule. No. 9 San Diego Mesa hosts Mt. San Jacinto at 6 p.m., while Palomar welcomes No. 17 Chaffey at 1 p.m.

No. 3 Saddleback at No. 6 Southwestern

Saturday, noon — DeVore Stadium, Chula Vista

Southwestern has spent the season showing how far its program has advanced. Saddleback offers another demanding measure.

The Bobcats lead the series 27-3-1 and won last season’s meeting, 48-7, answering Southwestern’s opening touchdown with 48 consecutive points.

This year’s Jaguars bring a stronger résumé into the rematch. Southwestern is ranked No. 8 nationally, one position ahead of Saddleback, and has an opportunity to add a significant home victory to a season that already includes a triple-overtime win over Mesa.

The Jaguars rebounded from their 38-28 loss at Riverside by defeating El Camino, 31-24, last Saturday in Torrance.

Southwestern scored on its first three possessions to build a 21-0 lead, then had to respond after the Warriors scored 17 unanswered points.

Steven Benson, a Christian High graduate, supplied a fourth-quarter field goal before Dominic Duran connected with Ahmad “AJ” Perry II on the decisive 75-yard touchdown play. Perry turned a short crossing route into the score that restored a two-touchdown advantage.

Duran finished 12-of-17 for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Perry caught three passes for 104 yards, while Malachi Bean-Seay added four receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Southwestern’s running game remains an important part of its balance.

Elias Johnson carried 19 times for 67 yards and a touchdown against El Camino. Caleb Blocker added 56 yards on eight attempts, and Jamar Johnson also scored on the ground.

Blocker averages 68.8 rushing yards per game, the highest figure among the league’s listed leaders. Elias Johnson has seven rushing touchdowns, giving Duran options beyond a passing game averaging 236.3 yards per outing.

The Jaguars will need that balance against a Saddleback team coming off consecutive victories over Mesa and Palomar.

The Bobcats defeated Mesa, 30-27, in overtime before beating Palomar, 42-26, last Saturday. Against the Comets, quarterback Timmy Herr completed 17 of 19 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

Francisco Martinez caught a 44-yard touchdown pass, and Mason Fromm turned another Herr completion into a 37-yard score.

But Saddleback’s special teams did much of the separating.

Jake Minter blocked a punt and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. Later, Vai Manutai blocked another punt that Ethan Naudin recovered in the end zone.

Those plays make Southwestern’s kicking-game execution especially important. A blocked punt and a sack-fumble gave Riverside short touchdown drives two weeks ago, while a muffed punt helped El Camino get back into last Saturday’s game.

The Jaguars have also produced important special-teams stops of their own, including two blocked field-goal attempts against the Warriors.

Defensively, Southwestern has forced a takeaway in every game this season, collecting 16 overall. Christian High graduate Brady Eads, who averages 6.4 tackles per game, led the Jaguars with seven stops at El Camino.

Southwestern enters allowing 17.8 points per game, compared with Saddleback’s 23.9. The Jaguars also hold the scoring edge, averaging 36.9 points to the Bobcats’ 30.8.

Those numbers suggest Southwestern has the pieces to compete. Saturday offers the opportunity to turn them into a victory with considerable postseason value.

Mt. San Jacinto at No. 9 San Diego Mesa

Saturday, 6 p.m. — Merrill Douglas Stadium

Mesa returns home with momentum after another comeback victory, but the Olympians would benefit from making their next assignment less complicated.

The Olympians scored the final 28 points in last Saturday’s 41-26 victory at Chaffey, improving to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in league.

Their only defeats have come in overtime against Southwestern and Saddleback, by a combined five points.

With Riverside visiting for the regular-season finale on Nov. 7, Mesa first needs to handle a Mt. San Jacinto team that is 2-6 overall and 0-5 in league.

The Eagles lost to Riverside, 61-22, last Saturday, but their passing game presents a challenge.

Quarterback Julian Silva threw for 376 yards against the Tigers. Kee-Esoul Pitchford averages 101.6 receiving yards per game and has seven touchdown catches, while James Trevino had 129 receiving yards against Riverside.

Mesa’s pass rush could be important in preventing those receivers from finding room downfield.

Jack Metzler recorded two sacks at Chaffey, bringing his season total to six, tied for the league lead. Tobiah Araujo has another 5.5 sacks.

On offense, freshman quarterback Diesel Taylor continues to lead the league with 23 touchdown passes, including three against Chaffey.

Taylor threw for 248 yards in the victory, finding Braxton Sherley for touchdown passes of 30 and 21 yards. Ezelle Buchanan, a Mt. Miguel High graduate, added a 19-yard touchdown reception during Mesa’s second-half surge.

Grady Woodward and Jayden Chanel each caught seven passes, combining for 134 yards.

The Olympians also received a major contribution from Isaiah Jackson, the Helix High graduate whose return work repeatedly changed the field.

Jackson scored on a 91-yard kickoff return and added a 52-yard punt return that set up a short touchdown run. He finished with 263 return yards.

Mesa’s East County connections contributed elsewhere. Alexander Villanueva, from Monte Vista, rushed for 45 yards, while former Helix defensive back Carter Ross intercepted a pass.

Samuel Marquez led the running game with 70 yards on eight carries, and Devin Cerda scored twice on short runs.

Mesa overcame two lost fumbles and 212 yards in penalties at Chaffey. Reducing those mistakes would help the Olympians avoid another comeback assignment and keep their attention on finishing the season strongly.

No. 17 Chaffey at Palomar

Saturday, 1 p.m. — Palomar College, San Marcos

Palomar returns home looking to turn offensive production into a victory after falling at Saddleback, 42-26.

The Comets are 3-5 overall and 1-4 in league. Chaffey enters 5-3 and 2-3, coming off its 41-26 loss to Mesa.

Noah Schuback threw for 381 yards and three touchdowns against Saddleback, connecting with 11 receivers. Princeton Anderson had 98 receiving yards, including a 65-yard touchdown.

Palomar committed no turnovers, but two blocked punts returned or recovered for touchdowns put the Comets in a difficult position. Another special-teams miscue supplied Saddleback with a short field.

Protecting the punt operation and improving a running game that produced only 23 yards will be priorities against Chaffey.

The Panthers bring quarterback Frankie Villabazo, who threw for 349 yards against Mesa and has 16 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns this season.

Nathan Enriquez averages 79.9 receiving yards per game, while Aureliano Bedoy caught a 76-yard touchdown pass against the Olympians.

Palomar’s defense will look to Kamaka Lorenzo, who made 13 tackles at Saddleback, and Tanner Doyle, who added 12. Andrew Livingston recorded two sacks, while Bubba Garcia intercepted a pass.

Griffin Graffiti

The Grossmont Griffins have no game Saturday because their scheduled meeting with LA Pierce was declared a preseason forfeit. That victory is already included in Grossmont’s 6-3 overall and 3-1 American Pacific League records. The Griffins finish the regular season Nov. 7 at Glendale.