Anaheim Handles Fullerton Better Than Ball in 15-14 Loss

Fullerton High School discovered it’s better to be lucky than good Thursday night.

The Indians were pushed and shoved up and down the field through most of their nonleague game against Anaheim. The Colonists finished with more yards rushing and passing and made more big plays.

But the Indians were there, waiting, when the Colonists got generous. Anaheim turned the ball over four times, which provided Fullerton with enough opportunities to pull out a 15-14 victory in Glover Stadium.

It was the ninth time in the past 10 seasons that Fullerton has beaten Anaheim in the season opener. But even Fullerton Coach Pat Ward said his team received far more than its share of breaks.

“Anaheim kicked us all over the field,” Ward said. “They beat us up pretty bad. We were lucky to get out of this one with a win.”

Both Fullerton’s touchdowns came as a result of Anaheim mistakes. The first came 17 seconds into the game, when David Chacon intercepted a Phillip Covarrubias pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown.

The second, also scored by Chacon, came after a fumble by Che Garcia with 11 minutes left in the game.

Garcia, who rushed for 81 yards, broke free up the middle for a short gain, but had the ball stripped. Kelle Whitehurst recovered the fumble to give the Indians possession on the Anaheim 26.

Three plays later, quarterback Daniel Chacon threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to his brother, David, to pull the Indians to within one, 14-13.

Daniel Chacon then scored a two-point conversion on a gimmick play to give Fullerton the lead with nine minutes remaining.

“Going for two (points) was a gamble,” Ward said. “But it was the first game and we figured we could get away with it. Besides, we weren’t moving the ball, so I didn’t think we would get another chance.”

Anaheim held the Indians to 132 total yards and only 50 rushing. In fact, Fullerton had the ball past midfield only five times.