PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Fullerton’s Ground Game Puts Away Magnolia, 20-7

Thanks to a strong running game, Fullerton was able to move past Magnolia, 20-7, in a nonleague football game Thursday at Fullerton District Stadium.

John Wilkie, who sat out the first half for disciplinary reasons that Fullerton Coach Julian Smilowitz wouldn’t elaborate on, rushed for a team-high 125 yards in 22 carries.

Fullerton (3-0) rushed for 281 yards overall. Joe Emigh added 79 yards in three carries, including a 67-yard touchdown run up the middle on the first play of the second quarter. The score gave Fullerton a 6-0 lead that the Indians maintained at halftime.

Fullerton also got 63 yards from David Barrios, who started at tailback in the first half.

The Indians’ most important and impressive drive started after the defense made a strong stand midway through the fourth quarter.

Magnolia (1-2) trailed, 13-7, but got the ball at the Fullerton 36 thanks to a fumble recovery by linebacker Jeremy Becker. Magnolia reached the Fullerton 18 but turned over the ball on downs.

Defensive back Rudy Vejas broke up a pass in the right flat on fourth down.

Fullerton got the ball back at its 18 with 6 minutes 38 seconds left. The Indians covered 82 yards in 13 plays, scoring the final touchdown when Wilkie went four yards up the middle with 28 seconds left. The drive took 6:10.

Wilkie carried nine times for 47 yards in the final drive. His longest run--19 yards--came on third down and six at the Magnolia 32.

“[The offensive line] pushed the ball up and down the field,” Smilowitz said. “That’s how we hoped they would play at the start of the season.”

Magnolia also got a strong rushing effort from Carlos Martin, who also starts at middle linebacker. Martin had 144 yards in 18 carries and scored on a 69-yard touchdown run with 6:58 left in the third quarter.

Fullerton is at Bellflower and Magnolia plays host to Whittier California Sept. 29.