Fullerton Can’t Hold On, Loses to El Camino, 49-34

Early on, Fullerton gave every indication it could hang with highly ranked El Camino, but in the end the Warriors pulled away.

El Camino, ranked sixth in the nation by the J.C. Grid-Wire, won, 49-34, Saturday at El Camino.

Fullerton held leads of 7-0, 14-7, and, 24-21, but trailed at the half, 28-24.

The game turned in El Camino’s favor on some strong work by the defense.

Fullerton trailed, 35-24, late in the third quarter but had a first down at the El Camino three. The Hornets (0-2) lost three yards in three plays and settled for a 22-yard field goal by Chris Diaz with 2 minutes 34 seconds left in the quarter.

El Camino then took only three plays and 24 seconds to go 65 yards for a touchdown.

The score came when quarterback Frank Ramirez threw 24 yards to Russell Shaw for a 42-27 lead.

Shaw and Ramirez vexed the Fullerton defense all night. Shaw caught nine passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns. He also went 27 yards on a reverse for another score.

Ramirez was 20 of 34 for 338 yards and five touchdowns. He threw passes that were intercepted by Nikia McKinney and Mark Parsons.

Mike Jacot rushed for 104 yards, 91 of which came in the first half for Fullerton.