COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Mountain Breaks Free to Lift Fullerton

John Mountain ran for a career-high 188 yards, including a key 30-yard gain, as Fullerton defeated Cerritos, 25-11, in a nonconference community college game in front of about 3,500 Saturday at Cerritos College.

Fullerton faced third and 16 at the Cerritos 50 with two minutes 50 seconds left. The Hornets figured to run the ball to take time off the clock before having to punt.

But Mountain took an inside handoff from his fullback position, broke through the middle of the line, broke a tackle, bounced off another defender and was into the open field. He was finally brought down at the Cerritos 20.

“I just looked up and there was a giant hole,” Mountain said. “It was like that all night. The line did a great job.”

From there, Brian Williams had runs of seven, five and eight yards, the final one for a touchdown and a 25-11 Fullerton lead.

Williams finished with 123 yards in 30 carries. Fullerton had 346 yards in 57 carries as a team. Mountain had the longest run of the game, a 44-yarder in the first half.

The teams were tied, 8-8, at the half. Cerritos’ Darrell Thompson scored on a two-yard run at 11:37 in the second quarter and Mountain caught a one-yard scoring pass from quarterback David Pierson with 42 seconds left in the first half.

Fullerton took the lead for good on a 48-yard field goal by Scott Szeredy with 10:23 left in the third quarter.

The Hornets scored again early in the fourth quarter on a four-yard run by quarterback David Pierson.

The drive started when Fullerton defensive back Brian Hayes had an interception at the Hornet 33. Fullerton rushed for 60 of the 67 yards in the following scoring drive, including 25 by Pierson.

He was pushed back twice during his touchdown run but his third effort was enough to get him into the end zone from four yards with 14:54 remaining.

Cerritos got a 27-yard field goal from Jorge Madrigal with 10:30 left to cut the lead to 18-11, but the Falcons (1-1) could get no closer.

In other nonconference games:

Rancho Santiago 49, San Diego Mesa 0--Trent Julian had three touchdown receptions for Rancho Santiago to tie the school record in a game. Paul Peters set the record in 1988 against Riverside.

Rancho Santiago (1-0) held San Diego (0-2) to 260 yards on offense and scored four of its touchdowns after San Diego turned over the ball. Rancho Santiago rushed for 360 yards.

“Taking the offense, the defense, the special teams and the little things the coaches look for, this was one of the best opening games we’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” Coach Dave Ogas said.

Saddleback 30, Santa Monica 14--Rob Fanti scored two touchdowns to lead Saddleback College (1-0). John Williams scored on a 50-yard run for Santa Monica (0-1) and was his team’s leading rusher with that carry alone.

Golden West 21, Long Beach City 6--Donnie Beed scored two touchdowns on runs of nine and 13 yards and rushed for 96 yards on 17 carries for Golden West in its opener at Orange Coast College.