Community College Football : Fullerton Shatters El Camino’s Streak, 38-36

Fullerton College stopped the longest winning streak in the state with a 38-36 victory over El Camino in a Mission Conference football game Saturday in front of about 2,000 at El Camino.

El Camino, which was 11-0 last season, had won 13 in a row before meeting Fullerton.

But Fullerton (3-0 overall, 2-0 in conference play) used a steady offense and just enough defense to beat the 1987 J.C. Gridwire national champions. El Camino had last lost in the final game of the 1986 season to Golden West.

Fullerton took advantage of three first-half turnovers to build a 24-9 lead.

Fullerton seemed to put the victory away with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Victor Williams to Tim Imperiali with 5:29 left in a wild second half. That put Fullerton ahead, 38-23.

El Camino (2-1, 1-1) had scored with 10:07 left in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 31-23.

But in a hectic finish, El Camino rallied with two touchdowns in the final three minutes. But Fullerton was able to recover an on-side kick with 1:04 left and ran out the clock.

“It was hard to believe all the things that happened,” Fullerton Coach Hal Sherbeck said. “You never ease up at anytime. You can’t, that’s why it is a great game.”

Fullerton was able to control much of the tempo most of the time thanks to the running of tailback Jeff Andrews, who had 172 yards in 29 carries. Andrews has rushed for 367 yards in the last 2 games.

Ray Pallares rushed for only 6 yards in 5 carries but scored 3 touchdowns for Fullerton. He scored on runs of 1, 1, and 2 yards--all in the first half.

In other Mission Conference games:

Saddleback 29, Palomar 7--Saddleback rolled up 458 yards in total offense at San Marcos High School. Saddleback scored three times in the first quarter to open an 18-0 lead and the defense made the lead stand with the help of 4 interceptions, despite giving up 404 yards in total offense to Palomar.

Saddleback’s Derick Hale intercepted a pass in the end zone, and Todd Johnson had an interception at the Saddleback 13 to stop another Palomar drive, both in the first half. Eric Brass also had two interceptions for Saddleback (3-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play).

Darrin Sweazy scored on run of 3 and 2 yards and John Burns scored on a 13-yard run for Saddleback. Quarterback Scott Stark’s scoring pass came on a 54-yard pass play to Jim O’Brien.

Scott Miller had 11 catches for 166 yards and Stark was 16 of 36 for 286 yards with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions for Saddleback. Palomar fell to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

--STEVE KRESAL

Orange Coast 27, Mt. San Antonio 13--Brian George returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and visiting Orange Coast never trailed thereafter. The Pirates (2-1, 1-1) also scored a 76-yard touchdown on a screen pass from quarterback Steve Calhoun to running back Jason McGehee in the second quarter for a 20-7 halftime lead. Mt. San Antonio (2-1, 1-1) outgained OCC, 295-221.

Rancho Santiago 17, Long Beach 17--Mike Miscione’s 1-yard run and Tim Snitko’s extra point with 5:46 left in the game lifted Rancho Santiago into a tie with Long Beach at Veterans Stadium. Long Beach’s Todd Nichols failed on a 49-yard field goal as time ran out. Miscione, who had rushed for at least 100 yards in each of his last two games, had only 19 yards in 11 carries. Quarterback Scott Wood completed 21 of 32 passes for 225 yards and 1 touchdown for Rancho Santiago (2-0-1, 1-0-1). Defensive tackle Willey Thomas had a big night for the Dons, making 9 tackles. He had 2 sacks. Long Beach is 1-1-1 overall, 1-0-1 in conference play.

Golden West 14, Southwestern 10--Johnny Anderson caught a 12-yard pass from quarterback Ed Bricker with 46 seconds left in the game to lift visting Golden West (2-1, 1-1). Southwestern fell to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play.