The Fountain Valley Jaguars suffered their first loss of the season in the regular season's final game that determined the AFL Pacific League Championship. The South Orange County Patriots defeated the Jaguars in a 13-6 defensive struggle played on Saturday, November 7th, at Fountain Valley High School. The Jaguars finished the regular season with a winning record at 6-1-1 by scoring 217 offensive points and allowing only 25 all year.

The Jaguar defense held the Patriots scoreless until late (1 minute remaining) in the third quarter. The 13 points allowed to the Patriots was more points than the Jaguars had given up to all opponents combined - all year, however, it was only the second time this season that SOC had been held under 30 points (SOC scored 13 points against Carson Colts North).

The Jaguar defense allowed only 269 yards against an impressive SOC Patriot offense. This was only the second time this season they allowed over 200 yards (208 to Carson Colts North).

The Jaguar defense stopped six of eight Patriot drives (with one fumble recovery, four turnover-on-downs, and once when time expired). The Jaguar defense only sacked the SOC Patriots twice. DT Coby Mason had a sack in the first quarter while LB Travis McNaughton sacked the SOC RB once in the fourth quarter. Travis led the Jaguar defense with 1 fumble recovery of a Jaguar muffed kickoff return, 1 sack, 14 tackles (a team record) and 4 assists.

For the first time this season, the opponents rolled up more offense than the Jaguars. The SOC Patriots managed 269 total yards on short gains off-guard or off-tackle designed to wear down the Jaguar linebackers. This "up-the-gut" approach gained yardage on 57 out of 64 SOC attempts (only 5 SOC plays were ran outside for little or no gain). Fountain Valley's offense was limited to 159 total yards with 120 of those (75%) coming in the first quarter of which 53 yard (33%) coming on one play (RB Bryan Schutte's touchdown).

Offensive penalties stalled two Jaguar drives in the second quarter (which resulted in negative net yardage {-6 yards} for that quarter). An offensive penalty also stalled a Jaguar third quarter drive while a short-lived fourth quarter Jaguar drive resulted in a fumble.

Saturday's matchup was tied 6-6 with just over two minutes left in the game. A fitting end for two great undefeated teams playing for the AFL Pacific League Championship title.

The Jaguars are the AFL Wildcard team and play Saturday, Nov. 14th, at 11 AM at Hart Park in Orange against Carson Colts North. Carson is also 6-1-1 and tied the Jaguars 6-6 when they both met last Oct. 3rd at FVHS. The winner of this Wildcard game will move on to the next round of the playoffs. The losing team is finished for the season (sudden death).

Final Team Standings for the 1998 regular season.

Season Highlights for the 1998 regular season.