COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOWL GAMES : Late Stand by Defense Gets Fullerton Past Hancock

Fullerton College’s defense, suspect in recent games, made a late stand and the Hornets beat host Hancock College, 38-33, Saturday in the K-Swiss Bowl.

Fullerton’s James Hartford, the game’s most valuable player, scored on a 23-yard run with 3 minutes 44 seconds left to put the Hornets ahead, 38-27.

But Hancock rallied for a touchdown with 2:47 left, then got the ball right back when running back Mike Jacot fumbled with 2:39 left.

Hancock advanced to the Fullerton 13, where the Bulldogs had first down and 1:50 to score the go-ahead touchdown.

But four incomplete passes later, Fullerton had the ball back. Defensive lineman Josh Micklos knocked down the first-down pass. Defensive back Kevin Shoup knocked down a pass on second down and Alex Molnar tipped away a pass on third down.

On fourth down, Hancock quarterback Mick Sitarski threw out of the end zone and Fullerton took over with 1:40 left.

The Hornets were able to run out the clock thanks to a nine-yard scramble by quarterback Marc O’Brien and Hartford’s nine-yard run on third down. Hartford gained 81 yards in 13 carries.

“I think we made it exciting for everybody except (Hancock Coach Barney) Eames and I,” said Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy. He had watched his defense crumble in a 34-7 loss to Rancho Santiago, then hang on in a season-ending 52-42 victory over Southwestern in the final two weeks.

Fullerton trailed, 13-0, in the first quarter but rallied with two touchdowns in the second. Tony Draft caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from O’Brien and Jeff Willis scored on a one-yard run.

The Hornets took the lead for good, 24-21, when Jacot scored on a five-yard run in the third quarter. The lead grew to 31-21 when defensive back Armand Boglin returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown. It was his second interception of the game.