Fullerton Rallies in Second Half to Roll Past Orange Coast, 35-9

Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy said his team was forbidden to even whisper the words Rancho Santiago, but the Hornets might have been guilty of thinking about next week’s showdown after a sluggish start against Orange Coast.

Fullerton struggled for a half, then blitzed the Pirates with a 28-point second half for a 35-9 Mission Conference Central Division victory Saturday at Orange Coast.

The Hornets (5-2-1, 4-0), who trailed, 9-7, at halftime, rallied on two touchdown runs by James Sebreros and one apiece by Jeff Willis and Mike Jacot, who ran for a season-high 139 yards in 14 carries. Jacot is the first Fullerton runner to top 100 yards this season.

Orange Coast (1-7, 1-3) scored on its second possession and recorded a safety late in the first quarter before Fullerton took control.

Fullerton’s defense sacked quarterback Matt Sauk six times for minus-59 yards and limited tailback Jeff Clayton to 25 yards in 13 carries. O’Brien completed 20 of 29 passes for 251 yards. Two of his passes were intercepted by Travis McCullough. Fullerton’s Chris Johnson caught seven passes for 102 yards.