WALKING A TIGHTROPE

In a game that came down to the wire, the No. 9 Fullerton College football team held off No. 15 El Camino College at home Saturday night 30-23. 

The Warriors and Hornets first played in 1951 with Fullerton winning big 53-15. Last season, El Camino got the better of No. 6 Fullerton by beating them 35-28. After the win tonight, FC holds the lead for the all-time series at 18-14. 

The game began like a couple of heavyweights measuring out one another scoring a couple of field goals each in the first quarter. ECC's Mark Waronek II knocked in a 31-yard field goal (11:17), and FC's Jonathan Fobear punched in a 37-yarder (7:54). 

Fullerton took a 10-3 lead at 4:38 in the second quarter thanks to a 2-yard TD run by Tyrell Greene Jr. Nearly 20 seconds later, El Camino hit back with a 60-yard break-away by Brian Santana to tie it up. 

The Hornets marched down the field on the next drive going 80 yards in 8 plays that ended with a 2-yard fade in the endzone from Josh Calvin to Will Gipson.  

Up 16-10 at the start of the third quarter, Fullerton fell behind on a 50-yard TD from Mehki Jordan to Marceese Yetts. The extra point put ECC on top 17-16 at 11:59. 

On its next possession, Fullerton conjured up an offensive drive that began at the FC 25 and pushed it all the way to the El Camino 6. An unfortunate interception in the endzone hurt FC's chances of taking the lead. The Warriors were able to add to their lead two drives later on a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Stephen Bradford. The PAT was blocked by Erik Hehl (also blocked a field goal earlier). 

Trailing 23-16 to start the fourth quarter, quarterback Brandon Nunez came in a led a masterful drive for FC (7 plays 45 yards) that was capped off by a 26-yard scamper to the end zone by Nunez tying the game up 23-23 after the Fobear PAT went through the uprights (13:10). 

With 5:37 left in regulation, the Warriors went for it on 4th and 4 on the FC 42. A fake punt soon turned into a pass that was picked off by Kasyus Kurns, who took the pigskin to the Fullerton 29-yard line. One play later, Tyrell Greene Jr. took off on a 34-yard sprint to the endzone putting the Hornets up 30-23 (Fobear's kick PAT good). 

FC's defense finished off the job keeping the El Camino offense from converting. FC soon took over at its own 47-yard line and ran the clock out for the victory. 

Tyrell Greene Jr. had an excellent game on the ground for Fullerton carrying the ball 23 times for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns. On defense Chris Harm led the team in tackles with 10, while Kasyus Kurns locked down his 3rd pick in as many games. 

Up Next: The Hornets (4-1 overall) have a bye this coming week but will be back in action on Thursday, October 13th when the team travels to San Bernadino Valley College to open Southern Conference-play. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm. 

*Photo by Matt Brown