COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : O’Brien Directs Fullerton Offense to Victory Over Golden West

Quarterback Marc O’Brien threw three touchdown passes during a nearly perfect third quarter Saturday and Fullerton went on to a 35-14 victory over Golden West in a Mission Conference Central Division game at Titan Stadium.

O’Brien, a sophomore, completed 10 of 11 passes, including the final eight in a row, for 154 yards in the third quarter. He finished the day 22 of 29 for 286 yards and four touchdowns and did not play in the fourth quarter.

One of his passes was intercepted but that came after the ball caromed off a receiver’s hands.

“He had a career game today,” Coach Gene Murphy said. “He made some wise, good decisions and he deserves everything he gets because he works so hard.”

It was the third consecutive victory for Fullerton (4-2-1) and the fourth in the last five games. Fullerton, the 10th-ranked team in Southern California, is tied for first in the Central Division with Rancho Santiago. The teams meet Nov. 12 at Titan Stadium.

Fullerton led, 14-0, at the half and increased the lead to 21-0 when O’Brien completed a 14-yard scoring pass to Rani Kahouch with 9 minutes 46 seconds to go in the quarter. Kahouch had five catches for 66 yards in the game.

O’Brien and Chris Johnson combined on a 30-yard scoring pass to make it 28-0 with 5:58 left in the quarter.

O’Brien capped his performance with a swing pass to running back Michael Jacot that went 21 yards for a touchdown as the third quarter ended.

O’Brien’s other touchdown pass went seven yards to wide receiver Steve Correa with 8:02 left in the first half. The play capped a 97-yard drive. Correa, who is the team leader with 33 catches for 461 yards, had six catches for 68 yards against Golden West.

Fullerton’s first touchdown was set up by a 38-yard punt return by Jimmy Sebreros that gave the Hornets a first down at the Golden West 29. Jacot capped the drive with a seven-yard run with 1:52 left in the first quarter.

Fullerton’s defense was equally impressive, keeping Golden West out of the end zone until the fourth quarter. It was the third consecutive game that the Fullerton has held an opponent to 19 or fewer points.

The Rustlers (2-5-1, 2-2) scored on a 49-yard pass play from quarterback Brian Schneider to Damien Cook with 11:40 left in the game. The final touchdown came on a four-yard pass from reserve quarterback Dan Blahy to Bryan Gail with 6:40 left.

“That’s about as complete as we’ve played this season,” Murphy said.