Wade packs wallop for Saddleback College football team

An Internet search for Zach Wade’s 2015 football highlights will uncover just more than seven minutes of hole-filling, helmet-knocking, clothes-lining, opponent-toppling, interception-snatching, fumble-recovering, core-torquing, pile-pushing, pass-deflecting, pursuit-angling, touchdown-saving havoc.

It’s the kind of performance that has four-year college recruiters plowing deep into their popcorn, and polishing their pitches. It is also the kind of contribution that has put Saddleback College (10-2) on the verge of a state and perhaps even national championship, heading into the California Community College Athletic Assn. title game at City College of San Francisco (11-1), Saturday at noon.

“This year has been the best football season of my life,” said Wade, a 6-foot, 200-pound strong safety, who leads the Mission Viejo-based school with 85 tackles.

A quarterback and safety at Newport Harbor High, Wade’s playing time as a senior was limited by an injury. But he went to Saddleback intent on playing quarterback. After gray-shirting in 2013 for the Gauchos, he elected to shift to safety, at which he collected 31 tackles for a team that finished 5-5.

This season, Wade has two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. And, as one of the team leaders, he has helped forge an uncommon bond among teammates, particularly for the me-first mentality that fosters revolving community college rosters and limited loyalty.

“The chemistry on our team is unbeatable,” Wade said about a Saddleback squad that edged out Orange Coast and Golden West, once ranked No. 1 in the state, to win the Southern Conference title, and rebounded from an 0-2 start to win its last 10 games. “I’ve never been part of a team that has been this close. It starts with [Coach Mark McElroy] and the whole coaching staff letting us know that the most important thing is coming together. Everyone has bought into that. We have a bunch of selfless guys who are willing to do anything for their team.”

What Wade does for his team is plain to see. Lining up most often at linebacker depth, though occasionally at the more traditional 10 yards off the ball, Wade uses his sturdy frame (enhanced by 15 pounds of muscle added since matriculating from Newport Harbor), instincts (fortified by more than a decade in the game), sinister aggression, ample speed (4.6 seconds over 40 yards) and athleticism to stand out.

“I would say my strength is making plays,” Wade said, “just all over. I do whatever I need to do to try to influence and change the game; whether it’s a big hit, or a big interception. The position I play in our 3-3-5 scheme gives me responsibilities all over the field. I could be up in the box, or back on the hash mark. And I blitz a lot, so it’s really fun. Defense wins championships and our defense plays together really well. I’ve had a couple big hits this year and I love that part. I just love being physical.”

The Gauchos, who have outscored opponents, 360-186, during the 10-game win streak, rank No. 4 among 37 Southern California teams in fewest points allowed (20.8 per game). Saddleback is ranked No. 3 in the JCGridiron.com national poll, two spots behind San Francisco.

The Gauchos are led offensively by State Player of the Year candidate Johnny Stanton, a sophomore quarterback who bounced back from Nebraska. Stanton has thrown for 3,168 yards and 25 touchdowns and also has a team-best 705 rushing yards with 12 TDs.

Wade said working against Stanton and the Saddleback offense in practice all season has helped sharpen the Gauchos’ defense. Wade also said his experience at quarterback helps him react more quickly to opposing offensive schemes.

“I use a lot of little things I’ve picked up [over the years] and I watch a lot of film,” Wade said. “I don’t just watch film on our opponents, but I watch guys who I admire at my position.”

Wade wore jersey No. 16 at Newport Harbor, as well as last season at Saddleback. But he made a change to No. 7 this year, in part as an homage to current Arizona Cardinals standout Tyrann Mathieu, who wore No. 7 as a college All-American at LSU.

“It wasn’t a fresh start, but a new beginning,” Wade said of his number change. “It has worked out well.”

Wade said his team needed a fresh start after season-opening losses to Cerritos and Riverside.

“There was definitely a sense of urgency, because we felt like we couldn’t lose any more games,” Wade said. “But there wasn’t any panic. We were just figuring some things out and we all had the same vision for what we wanted to accomplish. We have a saying ‘one heart,’ and that’s how we play. In that third game [a 42-17 triumph over El Camino on Sept. 19], we found our identity. We figured out who we are and what we are capable of doing. That’s where ‘one heart’ started and, ever since, we haven’t looked back.”

Wade said he hopes to look back on this season with a championship ring in tow. But he is also looking to the future.

“I am getting looks from several Division I colleges and I have a couple [scholarship] offers from small schools,” Wade said. “I’m in that [recruiting] process right now.”