Fulton’s Special Delivery Sparks Rancho Santiago

Mike Fulton had already signed and even sealed a letter of intent. But Fulton, on the advice of his father, never allowed the letter to be delivered.

So instead of being at Lindenwood College, an NAIA school in St. Charles, Mo., he is a sophomore at Rancho Santiago College.

Fulton had been a three-year starter at Villa Park High, each year at a different position. But he didn’t generate much interest from four-year colleges so got help from a recruiting service. The organization helped Fulton get a 75% scholarship to Lindenwood.

Excited to be going away, he signed the letter of intent and was about to head to the post office when his father asked to him to consider his options overnight. The letter remains on his desk.

“I figured that I could do just as well or better after two years at Rancho Santiago,” Fulton said. “I have no regrets coming here. It was the right decision.”

Fulton wasn’t so quick to offer that opinion during his first season. As a freshman, he spent much of his time watching and learning on the sideline.

“It was frustrating at times,” he said. “But it’s unbelievable how much I learned.”

There was no question that Fulton would get an opportunity this season, but he wasn’t sure where. He was a defensive tackle, nose guard and linebacker at Villa Park.

He practiced at linebacker last season and began this season expecting to be a middle linebacker. But after the Dons lost their first game to El Camino, 55-28, the Rancho Santiago coaching staff decided to shake things up.

As a result, Fulton moved to a down position called the “whip.” He plays about two yards off the ball and has run and pass responsibilities.

The defense was at its best last week in a 31-14 upset of Palomar, which had a 20-game winning streak stopped. Fulton credited the new defense but also a new attitude by the sophomores.

“Some of the freshmen were saying that the sophomores were messing around too much on the field,” Fulton said. “They were right. I’m glad they said something. The sophomores decided to show them how we need to come together as a team. The defense needs to keep doing that every week.”

In today’s Mission Conference games:

Long Beach (3-0) vs. Rancho Santiago (1-1), Santa Ana Stadium, 1:30 p.m.--Long Beach has already beaten Golden West, Saddleback and Riverside. Patrick Norris has rushed for 431 yards in 64 carries for the Vikings.

Saddleback (0-2) vs. Palomar (1-1), San Marcos High, 1:30 p.m.--The teams have combined to win the last three J.C. Grid-Wire national championships. Palomar won in 1991 and 1993. Saddleback was 11-0 and won it in 1992.

Mt. San Antonio (1-0-1) at Orange Coast (0-2), 1:30 p.m.--The Orange Coast defense must be at its best to slow down Mt. San Antonio, which is averaging 48 points a game. The Mounties beat Southwestern, 58-18, last Saturday. OCC’s Jeff Clayton, a preseason All-American, has rushed for 223 yards in 40 carries.

El Camino (2-0) vs. Golden West (0-2-1), Orange Coast, 7 p.m.--Golden West must apply pressure to El Camino quarterback Steve Sarkisian who has thrown for 854 yards and nine touchdowns. Golden West quarterback Brian Schneider has passed for 572 yards and four touchdowns.

Fullerton (0-2) at Pasadena (1-0-1), 7 p.m.--Fullerton played solid defense for much of the second half in a 28-10 loss to El Camino but will need as strong an effort against Pasadena because of running back Saladin McCullough (44 carries for 250 yards).