Injured Player Leads Furious Fullerton Rally : Football: Robinson returns to pace comeback after being carried off the field on a stretcher. Fumbles cost El Camino.

Eric Robinson got off a stretcher to lead a thrilling comeback Saturday as Fullerton College defeated El Camino, 31-24, in a Mission Conference game in front of about 4,000 at Fullerton District Stadium.

Robinson, a sophomore quarterback, was carried from the field with 10 minutes left. At that point El Camino appeared to have things well in hand and led, 24-9.

But Robinson sprinted back onto the field with six minutes left to help start an impressive three-touchdown rally.

He had hurt his ankle, but after it was retaped by trainer Bill Chambers, he appeared healthy. Chambers said Robinson also complained of a sore back and dizziness when taken from the field, but he looked fine when he scored the game-winner with 29 seconds left on a 17-yard option play.

“The weak side was open so I just took it,” Robinson said “ . . . I wasn’t sure we could come back to win. I was thinking a tie.”

The winning drive was set up when Hornet Ward Van Pelt intercepted El Camino quarterback Rod Harvey at the Fullerton 23 with 2:19 left.

The Hornets then drove 77 yards in five plays without a pass. One key play was Coy Collins’ 22-yard gain on a reverse. On the next play, Johnny Mountain went 31 yards on a delay to give Fullerton a first down at the El Camino 17.

Robinson scored on the next play and Eric Lange’s extra point gave Fullerton a 31-24 lead.

The victory keeps Fullerton (5-0, 4-0) the only undefeated team in the 16-team conference.

The comeback started when Brian Williams scored on a three-yard run with 5:36 left to play to cut the lead to 24-16 after Lange kicked the extra point.

El Camino then helped the Fullerton cause when Harvey fumbled on third down at the Warrior seven. Toby Howell recovered.

Williams scored on the next play with 4:23 left and Fullerton lined up to go for two points and the tie. Robinson rolled in with ease and the score was tied, 24-24, with 4:23 left.

El Camino then started on a drive it never figured to have to make to win. The Warriors (4-2, 2-2) got as far as the Fullerton 28 before Van Pelt’s interception.

Fullerton, which leads the conference in rushing with 290 yards per game, had 330. Mountain had with 123 yards in nine carries.

El Camino quarterback Harvey was 26 of 52 for 387 yards and two first-half touchdowns. But his two turnovers in the second half allowed Fullerton, the second-ranked team in the J.C. Grid-Wire national poll, to remain undefeated.