TODAY’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Roskelly Fits in Fullerton’s Offense

Ryan Roskelly had a decision to make coming out of high school.

Offense or defense?

He had been an all-Southern Section running back for Valencia High School, which went 14-0 and won a section title in 1991. But at 5 feet 11 and 175 pounds, he figured he had a better future as a wide receiver or defensive back than as a running back if he were to move to the four-year level.

Roskelly, who is among Fullerton’s fastest players, regarded wide receiver as a chance to better use his speed.

But there was the matter of family heritage to consider as well.

His brother Randy was a standout defensive back in 1991 at Fullerton and currently is starting as a defensive back at Southern Utah.

In the end, the logic of offensive coordinator Marv Sampson won out.

“If you’re a wide receiver, you get the ball and you get your name in the paper,” Sampson told a reporter. “If he was a defensive back, you wouldn’t be here.”

Roskelly still harbors the dream of switching to defense but is content to be part of the Hornet offense.

The Fullerton staff has been creative at times in coming up with ways for Roskelly to get the ball.

He leads the team in all-purpose yardage at 152 yards per game.

He has caught 12 passes for 134 yards and returned punts at nearly a 10-yard average including a long of 46.

He has also rushed for 33 yards in three carries, including a game-winning touchdown run of 18 yards on an end-around reverse with about a minute left in the 20-16 victory over Pasadena two weeks ago.

“I had the easy part of the play,” Roskelly said. “It was perfectly executed. I just got the ball and ran around the end.”

In today’s Mission Conference games:

Fullerton (1-1) at Cerritos (2-0-1), 7 p.m.--Fullerton already has reached last season’s victory total. The series dates back to 1959 and Fullerton holds a 19-5-2 advantage.

Golden West (1-1) at Southwestern (2-1), 7 p.m.--Golden West lost three defensive starters in the first two games and two could come back. Southwestern lost to Mt. San Antonio, 58-15, last Saturday.

Mt. San Antonio (3-0) vs. Rancho Santiago (1-0-1), Santa Ana Stadium, 7 p.m.--Rancho Santiago, fresh off a 37-36 victory over El Camino in the closing seconds, takes on maybe the best team in the conference in Mt. San Antonio. Gabe Garcia, Rancho Santiago’s quarterback, is 30 of 44 for 395 yards and five touchdowns. Rancho Santiago also leads the conference in rushing (206 yard per game). Mt. San Antonio (192) is second.

Pasadena (0-3) at Orange Coast (0-2), 7 p.m.--Both teams need a victory to get the season going in the right direction. OCC leads the conference in rush defense (54) but is No. 14 of 15 in pass defense at 279 yards per game.

Saddleback (1-1) at Grossmont (1-1), 1:30 p.m.--Saddleback’s 20-game winning streak was stopped Sept. 15 in a 21-15 loss to Cerritos. Now the Gauchos need to regroup after a bye week.