No. 3 College of the Canyons hosted No. 2 Saddleback College in a California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regional Playoff first-round matchup at Cougar Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23.

All students and staff from the William S. Hart Union High School District and all SCV first responders were invited to attend Saturday’s College of the Canyons football playoff game free of charge in light of the tragic events that occurred at Saugus High School on Nov. 14.

The Cougars also paid tribute to the victims, while sending thoughts and prayers to all those in the community impacted by this terrible tragedy, with a special moment of silence prior to kickoff.

General admission tickets are $12. Students/staff from both schools, seniors over age 60 and children under 12 are $8 as mandated by the CCCAA.

Canyons (8-2, 4-1) clinched a postseason berth for the second consecutive season after claiming a share of the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) National Division, Northern League Championship.

The conference championship is the second in as many years for Canyons, and the third under head coach Ted Iacenda who also won the Northern League crown in 2013, his first season at the helm.

The Cougars share their 2019 championship with Ventura College (8-2, 4-1) and Long Beach City College (6-3, 4-1).

The title is also the program’s 13th overall and 10th since COC reinstated its football program in 1998.

Saddleback (9-1, 4-1) finished as runner-up in the National Division, Southern League after a 56-25 home loss to Riverside City College in the regular season finale.

The two teams previously met in week one with the Gauchos able to post a 45-20 win at Cougar Stadium.

COC and Saddleback are all knotted up at 5-5 in the all-time series, with the Gauchos having won four of the last six meetings.

No. 1 Riverside (10-0, 5-0) will host No. 4 Mt. San Antonio College (7-3, 4-1) in the other SoCal Regional Playoff game. A full state playoff bracket can be found here.

The two winners from Saturday’s semi-final matchups will meet in the CCCAA SoCal Regional Championship on Saturday, Nov. 30.

The CCCAA State Championship game will be played Saturday, Dec. 14, at Memorial Stadium on the campus of Bakersfield College.

GAME PHOTOS BY KEVIN KARZIN

Saturday, November 23, 2019 – Santa Clarita, CA — College of the Canyons’ Cayden Dunn (1) rushes for an 11-yard touchdown as he gets past Saddleback College’s Connor Smith during the first quarter Saturday, November 23, 2019 at COC. Dunn’s touchdown tied the score at 7 as the Cougars beat the Gauchos 58-5 to advance to the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association SoCal Regional Playoffs against Riverside City College.

Saturday, November 23, 2019 – Santa Clarita, CA — College of trhe Canyons’ Lennox Howard (84) hauls in a 32 yard pass reception from quarterback Armani Edden as Saddleback College’s Evan Baker (30) and Bobby Blandino try to bring him down Saturday, November 23, 2019 at COC. The Cougars won the game 58-53 and will play Riverside City College Saturday, November 30, 2019 at Riverside.

Saturday, November 23, 2019 – Santa Clarita, CA — College of the Canyons’s Alonzell Henderson scores a 13-yard touchdown on a pass from Armani Edden during the second quarter Saturday, November 23, 2019 at COC. The Cougars beat the Gauchos 58-53 after building a 30 point second half lead that Saddleback couldn’t overcome and will face Riverside City College Saturday, November 30, 2019 at Riverside.

Saturday, November 23, 2019 – Santa Clarita, CA — College of the Canyons’ Cayden Dunn hauls in a 47-yard pass from quarterback Armanki Edden late in the first half and scored his third touchdown of the half to give Canyon’s a 30-19 halftime lead, Saturday, November 23, 2019 at COC. Canyons went on to win the game 58-53 and will face Riverside City College Saturday, November 30, 2019 at Riverside.