Fullerton Runs Out of Miracles Against OCC

Fullerton College, which has pulled off two amazing comebacks this season, couldn’t do it again Saturday night.

Orange Coast hung on for a 45-35 victory over the Hornets in a Mission Conference game in front of 3,500 at Fullerton District Stadium.

Orange Coast trailed at the half, 28-21, but scored 24 points in the second half, 17 in the fourth quarter.

OCC had taken a 35-28 lead with 14 minutes 26 seconds left on a three-yard run by Adrain Steen.

Fullerton came right back to tie it on the most impressive play in a game highlighted by outstanding plays.

Quarterback Eric Robinson threw a slant pass to Lee Strain, who reached high to made a one-handed grab, pulled in the ball and outran two defenders into the end zone for a 75-yard touchdown.

OCC came back to take the lead, 42-35, on a one-yard run by Jim Warren with 11:04 left in the game. The score was set up by a 58-yard kickoff return by Lawrence Hatch that gave OCC a first down at the Fullerton 41.

Hatch, who also stars at cornerback, had an inconsistent night returning kicks.

He fumbled a kickoff that led to a Fullerton touchdown in the first half, but atoned for it with a 91-yard return for a touchdown in the first half.

Hatch had 204 yards in five kickoff returns.

OCC scored its final points on a 29-yard field goal by Mike Wade with 6:47 left.

Fullerton, which had rallied for 22 and 14 points in fourth-quarter comebacks earlier this season, was out of luck this time.

The Hornets turned the ball over on downs once, and after recovering an OCC fumble at the Pirate 22, could not score with about 2 minutes left.

OCC was led on offense by Steen, who had a career-high 212 yards in 27 carries. He was the first OCC back to gain more than 200 yards in a game since Bill Harrison did in 1956.

Steen appeared recovered from a hip pointer that has bothered him for a month, but OCC Coach Bill Workman said otherwise.

“Steen is still suffering,” Workman said. “One of these days he is going to be healthy.” Well, the injured version will do for now.

In the opening drive, Steen’s 28-yard run set up the first OCC touchdown, from 10 yards out.

Robinson completed 12-yard scoring passes to David Owens and Rob Coons as Fullerton came back to take a 14-7 lead.

OCC quarterback Greg Angelovic scored on a 22-yard run with 10:17 left in the second quarter to tie it, 14-14.

With the victory, OCC is 6-2, 2-1 in the Central Division. OCC plays Riverside this Saturday.