COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Pasadena Wears Down Fullerton

Pasadena College strengthened its claim to the top ranking in Southern California with an 48-38 victory over second-ranked Fullerton in a Mission Conference game in front of about 2,500 Saturday at Pasadena.

Fullerton (2-1, 1-1 in conference) led, 31-21, at the half, but Pasadena quarterback James Malbrough proved too much for the Hornets.

He had 451 yards in total offense: 277 passing (13 of 22, four touchdowns), 130 rushing (on 14 carries, with two touchdowns) and, for good measure, 44 receiving (on two catches).

Derrick Holmes also did a good bit of damage to Fullerton, catching seven passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns.

Malbrough and Holmes hooked up for a 24-yard touchdown with eight minutes left in the third quarter to cut Fullerton’s lead to 31-28.

Malbrough then completed a four-yard pass to Gregory Robinson with 2:51 left in the quarter, and Pasadena led, 34-31.

That was stretched to 41-31 when Ericke Hubbard scored from six yards out with 13:51 left in the fourth quarter.

Fullerton cut the gap to 41-38 when Brian Williams (123 yards, 15 carries) scored from 24 yards with 10:16 left.

But Pasadena (4-0, 2-0) chewed up about seven minutes on a 65-yard drive, and Malbrough went in from six yards for the final score.

An interception by Fullerton defensive back Randy Roskelly with 1:50 left helped swing a wild first half in favor of the Hornets.

After the interception, Fullerton took just four plays to go 52 yards. The drive was capped by a 14-yard run by Williams with 55 seconds left, and Fullerton led, 28-21.

Pasadena was then forced to punt after three plays, and Fullerton’s Terrance Green returned to the Hornet 48.

Williams ran 17 yards off tackle, then quarterback David Pierson found Terrence Green at the Pasadena 10 for 25-yard pass play, and Fullerton was on the 10 with four seconds left. Scott Szeredy kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 31-21 at the half.