Football: Desert 36, Saddleback Valley Christian 20

On a long road trip, Saddleback Valley Christian was a longshot to begin with. But when the elements were unleashed on the Edwards AFB Desert football field, the Warriors were all wet.

And wet was not what the Warriors wanted.

Saddleback Valley Christian was defeated by the fourth-seeded Desert Scorpions in the second round of the Southern Section Northeast Division playoffs on Friday, 36-20.

Score: Desert 36, Saddleback Valley Christian 20

Key Stats: Desert’s Robert Maldonado rushed for 101 yards and touchdowns of 2 and 51 yards, the latter with 9:47 left in the second quarter that gave Desert a 16-0 lead.

Pivotal Moment: Saddleback Valley Christian trailed at halftime, 16-13. Rain began pouring at the start of the second half, putting a burden on a Saddleback Valley Christian offense that wanted to throw the ball but couldn’t.

Quotable: “You don't want to blame the elements," said SVC coach Justin Reber, "but we couldn't catch the ball and it put us in a bind.”

Records: Desert (10-2), Saddleback Valley Christian (9-3)

Notes: Despite the conditions at Edwards AFB, Saddleback Valley Christian’s three touchdowns all came on big plays. Jake Markum passed for touchdowns of 62 yards to Elijah Bratton and 66 yards to David Molina to pull to within 28-20 with 9:21 remaining. … Jordan Bella rushed for only 30 yards but he scored three touchdowns of 3 yards or less. The last, a 1-yarder, extended the margin to 36-20.