McCullough Carries Muir Over Fontana : High schools: He rushes for 254 yards and scores both touchdowns in a 14-0 victory.

In one run, Saladin McCullough gained more than he had in Pasadena Muir High’s first game of the season.

McCullough went left and left everyone behind for a 96-yard touchdown run on a third and 10.

And Muir, a Division II powerhouse, went on to a 14-0 victory over Fontana, a Division I powerhouse, at Pasadena City College Friday night.

It was the first of two touchdown runs by McCullough, who rushed for 254 yards in 30 carries. His first score came with 1:37 left in the first quarter to help give Muir a 7-0 lead. “That play is designed so the fullback pops the end. It was just a big hole,” McCullough said. “I didn’t think they would catch me, I just ran hard.”

McCullough said that he has run the 100-yard dash “in about 10.6” and showed no sign of slowing on the run. With 4:16 left in the third quarter, McCullough scored again, this time from 10 yards out as Muir took a 14-0 lead.

McCullough, who had gained 297 yards in a 27-23 loss to Fontana last year, rushed for 160 yards by halftime Friday. Against Palmdale the week before, he had gained 89 yards in 11 carries.

“The difference between this year and last year is that last year we got a lead and sat down,” McCullough said. “This year we took the lead and we played hard.”

Muir’s defense dominated, snuffing Fontana’s only scoring threat of the first half by stopping the Steelers for no gain on fourth and a foot at the Muir 16-yard line with five minutes remaining in the half.

It was as close as Fontana would get to the goal line.

“Their defense threw everything they had at us,” said Fontana quarterback Gary Tessitore, who was stopped on fourth down.

“I kind of second-guessed myself on that play,” Tessitore said. “I was going to go over the top because I thought they might go underneath and then I thought ‘no, what if they don’t?’ so I went underneath and they did to. They just got my legs.”

Tessitore completed nine of 25 passes for 89 yards. Muir’s Andy Colbert completed one of five for nine yards. He didn’t need to do anymore.

Muir (2-0) is a contender for the Division II title, but its coach, Jim Brownfield, said that Muir doesn’t belong on the same field as Fontana (1-1).

Maybe he built up Fontana too much?

“We still don’t belong on the same field with them,” he said. “David knocked off Goliath again. We got them with a slingshot again. How can you explain it?”