Dons exhibition football game offers hope for upcoming season

The Santa Ana College football team, last year’s Southern California Bowl champions, resumed its season with an impressive exhibition game against East Los Angeles College.

As they enter their first season under manager Geoff Jones following the death of manager Anthony White, the Dons are looking to start the season on the right foot.

“It was never the plan,” Coach Jones said of his promotion to head coach. “But we have 100 kids dying to get in, get a scholarship and move on, and they were all looking at me, so let’s do it.”

The highlight of the exhibition was the Dons’ stifling defense led by coach James Guglielmana. Forcing three turnovers, they appear to be in midseason form.

Such a promising start can be attributed to an experienced defensive line.

“I have six returning starters, which is unusual,” coach Guglielman said. “You can only field four players, so that’s a good problem to have.”

Defender Emari Hart made a standout play during the exhibition game, catching the ball and accounting for one of the team’s three turnovers.

“My old high school quarterback is in ELAC, so I went into that game determined,” Hart said. “The coaches told me to stay on top of my game and do my job, and I did. I just came out with an interception.”

The offense is led by a core of sophomores: point guards Owen Smith and Will Saucedo and wide receivers Malichi Pierce and James Farmer.

“They are the face of the offense and the noise source for the team,” coach Jones said.

SAC will open the regular season on September 7 at home against its toughest opponent, Pasadena City College, the only team to beat the Dons last year.

“The sky’s the limit,” Guglielman’s coach noted. “I think we can win the SoCal Bowl again and compete for a state title.”