TODAY’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Nelson’s Energies Are Focused on Football and Family

When Fullerton Coach Marv Sampson raves about quarterback Josh Nelson, his praise is not confined to Nelson’s football skills.

Nelson, a freshman, began pushing for the starting job during summer drills and won it by the second game of the season.

But it is Nelson’s personal qualities that impress Sampson most.

Nelson, who is 6 feet 3 and 195 pounds, was recruited by UC Davis after playing at Servite High School last season. But he didn’t feel right about leaving Orange County.

Nelson said he felt more needed at home to be with his parents and his 17-year-old sister, Tawna, who has a rare disease that prevents her blood from circulating correctly.

“He’s a very caring brother and son,” Sampson said. “When the season started, he lived by himself for four weeks because they (his sister and parents) were at the Mayo Clinic. He was worried about her and talking to them every day. Plus, he was learning our system. He never missed a practice and was never late.

“He had his mind in both places and still does. He has to focus on something more important than football and deals with a great deal of pressure very well.”

Nelson helped Fullerton (1-5) to its first victory last week against Riverside, but that is not the game Nelson talks about the most.

Instead, he focuses on a 41-12 loss to Saddleback because it was one of the few games that Tawna has felt well enough to attend in recent years. She watched that night from the family’s motor home, parked on the track at Saddleback.

“It felt really good to have her there watching,” said Nelson, 18. “We played well for a half, but I wish we could have won.”

Nelson, who is also an accomplished tennis player, is only in his second year at quarterback. He was a defensive back his first three years at Servite but did work out at quarterback some as a junior. As a senior, he was the starter.

At Fullerton, Nelson shared time with Eric Helms and Greg Windle the first game and threw three passes that were intercepted during the second half of a 28-9 loss to Long Beach. Nelson turned his ankle in the third quarter of the 40-9 loss to El Camino the following week and sat out the 17-6 loss to Pasadena because of the injury.

But he has been much improved since his return. Nelson is 55 of 104 for 705 yards this season but is 29 of 48 for 343 yards in the last two games.

“The whole team supports everyone here,” Nelson said. “We never get down on each other, and no one was saying, ‘Get that freshman out of there.’ ”

In tonight’s 7 p.m. Mission Conference games:

Grossmont (0-5-1) at Fullerton (1-5)--The Hornets are looking for their second consecutive victory and the first at home this season. Mike Carter became the first Fullerton running back to gain 100 yards in a game this season when he had 100 in 24 carries in the 16-7 victory over Riverside.

Grossmont opened with a 6-6 tie against College of the Desert but has since lost five games in a row.

Golden West (2-4) at San Diego Mesa (1-5)--Like Fullerton, Golden West is looking for its second consecutive victory. The Rustlers stopped Grossmont, 15-10, last week. Golden West is led on the ground by Vance Senteno, who has started the last two weeks.

Senteno ran for 154 yards and scored two touchdowns against Grossmont. He has 202 yards in 40 carries this season. Golden West defensive end Frank Marvitz has 10 sacks and is tied for the team-lead in tackles with 39. Linebacker Leonard Sims also had 39 tackles.

Rancho Santiago (1-5) at Orange Coast (4-2)--Orange Coast, particularly its defense, is looking to regroup after losing, 41-25, to El Camino last week. El Camino had 31 first downs and 556 yards in total offense. OCC is celebrating its 40th homecoming tonight.

Rancho Santiago has lost five in a row, but the Dons have played much better the last two weeks. Juan Garcia rushed for 177 yards last week in the 45-26 loss to Palomar. Rancho Santiago upset OCC, 10-7, in the rain last season.