Community College Football : Golden West’s Winning Streak Snapped as Fullerton’s Defense Rises to Occasion

Even though Golden West College won its first seven games this season, Coach Ray Shackleford knew the Rustlers had yet to see the worst of their schedule.

Golden West played the first of its difficult final three games Saturday night, losing to Fullerton, 21-7, in Fullerton District Stadium.

The defeat is the first of the season for the Rustlers (4-1, 7-1), who still have to play Cerritos and El Camino.

For the Hornets (3-2, 4-4), not only does the victory add some respectability to their up-and-down season, but it also allows them to entertain thoughts of a chance at the South Coast Conference title.

Golden West, tied for the conference lead with Cerritos, meets the Falcons Saturday in Costa Mesa’s LeBard Stadium.

The Hornets led, 14-0, at the end of the first half Saturday and extended the lead to 21-0 after a mistake by Golden West early in the fourth quarter.

On fourth down, the Rustlers were in punt formation on their 45 when the ball was snapped over the head of punter Don Aselin, who recovered on the 15-yard line.

On the next play, Hornet running back Richard Garcia ran up the middle for a touchdown, giving Fullerton a 21-0 lead with 11:41 left.

The Rustlers’ touchdown came on a three-yard pass from Eric Lawton to Lance Perry with 7:55 remaining.

The Hornets finally got a solid game from their defense, which ranked second to last in the conference coming into the game.

Fullerton allowed 294 yards in total offense, recovered 3 fumbles and intercepted a pass.

The interception by Andre Spencer snapped Lawton’s streak of 145 passes without an interception.

The Golden West quarterback was 20 of 39 for 189 yards and a touchdown.

Fullerton quarterback Richard Williams, who threw four interceptions in the Hornets’ loss to Cerritos last week, was 18 of 31 for 225 yards and 2 first-half touchdowns. He didn’t throw an interception.

The sophomore has thrown for 2,847 yards in two seasons and is only 55 yards short of the career record of 2,902 set by Dave Wilson in 1978-79. Wilson now plays for the Saints.

Fullerton was able to mount two solid drives to take a 14-0 lead in the first half.

The first score came when Williams completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Thane Ritchie. The play completed a 6-play, 80-yard drive.

The drive started after a Golden West punt went though the end zone and the Hornets took over on their 20.

Williams completed a 14-yard pass to Earl Jones. Running back Andrew Greer then carried four consecutive times for 40 yards to get the ball to the Golden West 25.

Williams and Ritchie took over from there.

The Hornets became the first team to score on the Rustlers in the second quarter this season when Williams connected with Jason Franklin for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 4:03 left in the half.

Fullerton had the ball on the four-yard line, but a holding call had backed it up to the 14.

The touchdown completed a 13-play, 80-yard drive that took over six minutes.

Golden West’s offense struggled in the first half, gaining only 103 yards. Even with the poor showing, the Rustlers still had a chance to score.

The Rustlers drove to the Hornet 10, but running back Carl Satterfield had a pass bounce off his shoulder pad in the end zone on third down. Spencer LaPlacca then missed a 27-yard field goal attempt.

In the Mission Conference:

Rancho Santiago 30, Citrus 23--John Cook threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Dons over the Owls in Santa Ana Stadium.

Cook, a sophomore, completed 13 of 20 passes for 226 yards.

In the third quarter, he completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Chuck Zacour. But it was Cook’s 35-yard scoring pass to K.B. Nelson with 46 seconds left in the game that gave Rancho Santiago (4-3, 5-3) the victory.

Cook also scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter.

Citrus (2-5, 2-6) mounted a drive to its 41-yard line, but Rancho Santiago defensive back Kirk Anderson made his second interception of the night with 24 seconds left to clinch the victory.

Orange Coast 54, San Diego City 14--Dave Swigart rushed for 121 yards and scored 2 touchdowns as the Pirates routed San Diego City in Orange Coast’s LeBard Stadium.

Orange Coast quarterback Jon Nowotny passed for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior Tagaloa’s four receptions gave him 49 for the season, an Orange Coast record.

Orange Coast is 4-3 in conference and 4-4 overall. San Diego City is 0-7 and 1-7.

Saddleback 17, Palomar 6--Running back Quincy Frank ran for 119 yards in 26 carries to help the Gauchos (3-4, 3-5) to this victory at home. With Quincy leading the way, Saddleback rushed for 217 yards. Palomar quarterback Jonathan Mitchell connected on 28 of 58 passes against the Gauchos, the most passes ever completed against Saddleback. Palomar fell to 4-3, 5-3.