Community College Football : Fullerton Upset Again by Rancho Santiago

Rancho Santiago College opened its football season for the third consecutive year with an upset of Fullerton College.

The Dons defeated Fullerton, 27-17, Saturday in a nonconference game at Santa Ana Stadium in front of 1,500 spectators.

Rancho Santiago, which defeated Fullerton, 26-23, last season and 27-24 in 1985, evened the series between the schools at 30-30-4.

Rancho Santiago’s two big plays came in the fourth quarter.

Fullerton was driving in the middle of the fourth quarter, but Myron Butler made an interception to stop the drive.

Rancho Santiago led, 20-10, and Fullerton was on the Rancho Santiago 14 when Butler leaped in front of David Sepulveda to make the interception.

Rancho Santiago got the ball on its four-yard line.

But then Fullerton made another mistake. On third and six, Rancho Santiago quarterback Rick Burns threw a pass down the sideline to Mark Dye. Dye had slipped past the defenders and after catching the ball on his 30, raced to the end zone to complete the 94-yard scoring play to give the Dons a 27-10 lead with 5:06 left.

Fullerton scored on a seven-yard pass from Victor Williams to Bryant Hatcher with seven seconds left.

The Dons opened a 14-0 lead in the first half on two-second quarter touchdowns.

Glen Campbell scored on a one-yard run with 10:44 left as the Dons took a 7-0 lead. The play ended a 15-play, 85-yard drive that took almost 7 minutes.

Burns was 6 of 7 for 56 yards on the drive. He was 14 of 17 for 124 yards in the first half and 18 of 27 for 253 yards and a touchdown in the game. He threw one interception.

Campbell had a key two-yard gain earlier in the drive when Rancho Santiago went for the first down on a fourth and one from the Fullerton 29.

Rancho Santiago scored again with 5:51 left in the half when Wade Clester scored on a eight-yard run on fourth and one.

Fullerton lost a touchdown early when Ray Pallares’ 16-yard run was called back for holding.

Bakersfield 31, Golden West 24--Reggie Yarbourgh rushed for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns in 23 carries to lead the host Renegades in the season-opener for both teams. Marco Barbosa added 109 yards in 15 carries for Bakersfield. Golden West quarterback Bill Marler was 12 of 28 for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was intercepted four times.