Community College Football : Fullerton Fumbles Upset Chances

Fullerton College had two fourth-quarter opportunities to upset El Camino Saturday in a South Conference football game but failed both times and lost, 27-26, in front of 2,500 at El Camino.

Fullerton fumbled and lost the ball seven times and threw one interception. But even with all the mistakes, the Hornets appeared to have a solid chance at the upset.

Fullerton led, 26-24, and had a first down at the El Camino nine-yard line with 8 minutes left in the game after El Camino punter Lance Oberparleiter fumbled the snap and was tackled.

But on second down, running back Ray Pallares fumbled and El Camino recovered.

El Camino then moved into field goal position on a 66-yard pass play from quarterback Dan Speltz to Mike Jones, which gave the Warriors a first down on the Fullerton 19.

Dominic Cefalone kicked a 36-yard field goal with 6:33 left to put El Camino ahead, 27-26.

Fullerton drove to the El Camino 39 with 32 seconds left, but quarterback Victor Williams’ pass was intercepted by Ken Sale.

El Camino (6-0, 3-0) remains in a first-place tie with Golden West in the conference. Fullerton is 3-3, 2-1.

Fullerton took a 26-17 lead early in the third quarter when quarterback Kerry Severson ran eight yards up the middle for a touchdown. But Fullerton’s try for a two-point conversion was stopped.

Fullerton had taken a 20-17 lead at halftime when Bryant Hatcher raced 96 yards with a kickoff for a touchdown with 2:34 left in the half.

Fullerton had started the game with a 6-play, 78-yard drive capped by a 15-yard run for touchdown by Andrew Greer to take a 7-0 lead.

But El Camino came back when Speltz ran in from the one-yard line for a 7-7 tie with 3:57 left in the first quarter. Then he completed a 6-yard pass to Dwight Pickens for a 14-7 lead with 2:47 left in the first quarter.

Fullerton tied the score on a 26-yard touchdown run by Pallares with 5:18 left in the half.

Golden West 28, Compton 7--Tailback Corey Dickson rushed for 149 yards and 3 touchdowns in 24 carries for Golden West in front of 400 at Compton.

Fullback Brennan Powe added 150 yards in 17 carries for Golden West (4-2 overall, 3-0 in South Coast Conference play), which had 385 yards rushing. Golden West is the top rushing team in the conference, averaging 250 yards a game.

Golden West was without its top two running backs--Blaise Bryant (448 yards rushing this season) and Tony Garrett (361). Both have been sidelined by ankle injuries. Against Compton, Golden West lost two more players because of injury--fullback Brian Booker (knee) and cornerback Jeff Darling (ankle).

“It’s just been a year for injuries,” said Ray Shackleford, Golden West coach. “But we have pretty good depth at running back, so we have been able to overcome it pretty well.”

Dickson scored on a nine-yard run in the first quarter, a 12-yard run in the third quarter and a four-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Bill Marler threw a 16-yard pass for a touchdown to Andre Shourds in the second quarter for Golden West.

Compton is 2-4, 0-3.

In the Mission Conference:

Saddleback 47, Southwestern 45--The Gauchos won at Southwestern to give Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen his 200th career victory.

Swearingen’s career record at Saddleback and El Camino colleges is 200-51-6.

Rancho Santiago 37, San Diego City 17--Rick Burns completed 14 of 24 passes for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead Rancho Santiago. Mike Miscione scored one of his two touchdowns on a seven-yard run in the first quarter. Rancho Santiago scored 28 points in the next two quarters.

Jamie Nelson caught 8 passes for 194 yards, including a touchdown pass that covered 68 yards. Glenn Campbell rushed for 194 yards in 8 carries as Rancho Santiago (3-3, 2-3) rolled up 498 yards in total offense. Kevin Key paced San Diego City (0-5-1, 0-4-1) with 118 yards in 19 carries.

Orange Coast College 49, San Diego Mesa 35-- Orange Coast receiver Junior Tagaloa caught three touchdown passes, breaking two school records. Tagaloa, who now has 10 touchdown receptions this season, broke the season touchdown reception mark set in 1949. He has 15 career touchdown receptions, breaking another record.

Running back Bart Recktenwald rushed 37 times for 234 yards to pace Orange Coast (5-1, 4-1) to 39 points in the second half. Quarterback Keith Jarrett completed 17 of 24 passes for 187 yards. Six of those completions were to Tagaloa, who wound up with 97 yards. Orange Coast rolled up 445 yards of total offense.

Mesa (2-3, 2-4) had 396 yards of total offense.