Osborne’s Job Duties Clear at Saddleback

Andy Osborne is finding college more to his liking than high school. He has an apartment, teachers treat him with more respect and he’s getting the chance to mature.

But what Osborne enjoys most about Saddleback is that he plays only one position on the football field: middle linebacker.

Three games into his freshman season, he is second on the team in tackles (29), including 1 1/2 sacks. Scott von der Ahe, also a linebacker, leads the team with 31 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks.

At El Dorado High, he was used at defensive end, linebacker, offensive guard and also special teams. There were games his sophomore season he was on the field for every down.

“(High school) was frustrating at times,� Osborne said. “I knew I could do better if I could concentrate on just one position but I couldn’t . . . (At Saddleback) practice is a lot more intense but in a way it’s kind of mellow too, because you only have to worry about playing one position.�

Saddleback went 11-0 last season and won the J.C. Grid-Wire national championship, but lost seven starters on defense, including All-American linebacker Jeff Pease, whom Osborne replaced.

Osborne, who was also a standout baseball player at El Dorado, wasn’t seriously recruited by any four-year colleges, so he started looking at community colleges.

He considered Fullerton and Rancho Santiago and visited Saddleback at his father’s suggestion. His decision to come to the college had nothing to do with the Gauchos winning a national title.

“I didn’t even know,� he said. “I saw a sign on the wall in the coaches’ office. I came here because I figured I would have a chance to play. Linebacker coach (Don) Butcher told me if I kept working hard I could start.�

Today’s Mission Conference games:

El Camino (1-3) vs. Fullerton (1-2), Cal State Fullerton, 7 p.m.--Fullerton must regroup after blowing a 24-0, second-half lead and losing, 31-24, to Cerritos last Saturday.

Golden West (2-1) at Cerritos (3-0-1), 7 p.m.--Cerritos is the fifth-ranked team in Southern California and Golden West is No. 10. Golden West’s Vance Senteno rushed for 62 yards and threw a half-back pass for an 80-yard touchdown in the 35-24 victory over Southwestern last Saturday.

Mt. San Antonio (4-0) at Saddleback (2-1), 7 p.m.--For the first time in three seasons, Saddleback is playing a team ranked higher than it is. Mt. San Antonio is ranked second in Southern California. Saddleback is No. 7. Mt. San Antonio is averaging 43 points per game and is coming off a 49-31 victory over Rancho Santiago.

Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen, who with 243 victories is the winningest community college football coach in the nation, will be honored before the game. The ceremony starts at 6:45 p.m.

Rancho Santiago (1-1-1) vs. Palomar (4-0), San Marcos High School, 1:30 p.m.--This game features two of the top rushers in the conference. Palomar’s Tony Burton has gained a conference-high 485 yards. Donnie Bladow of Rancho Santiago has rushed for 361 yards. Palomar’s Tom Luginbill has throw for 1,282 yards and 12 touchdowns.

San Diego Mesa (0-3) at Orange Coast (1-2), 1:30 p.m.--Orange Coast played much better in the 36-11 victory over Palomar last week than the Pirates had in the two previous losses.