DePhillips Leads Fullerton

Steve DePhillips rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns to lead Fullerton High School past Anaheim, 16-14, Thursday night in the season opener for both teams at Glover Stadium.

But none of his runs proved more important than a routine ramble in the final moments.

With his team clinging to a two-point lead and facing a third and 15 from its 24 with 1:40 left, Fullerton Coach Steve Nishimoto knew he couldn’t risk punting. He had to have a first down, or Anaheim, which already had scored with one big play pass, might just do it again.

“The call was natural,” Nishimoto said. “We decided to do what we’d been doing with effectiveness all night, running the option and seeing if we could find a seam on the outside.”

Quarterback Brent Bice took the snap, rolled right, waited for the guard to commit and then pitched to DePhillips, who ran 16 yards for a Fullerton first down, allowing the Indians to keep the ball and run out the clock.

“That was a big play, no doubt about it,” Nishimoto said. “Bice did a great job in waiting until the last minute, and then Steve did what he’d done all night.”

DePhillips spoiled what was supposed to be the ’88 premiere of the Johnny Mountain show. Anaheim’s running back rushed for 41 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown and caught 5 passes for 70 yards. But he was used more effectively as a decoy in the first half.