ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREP EXTRA : Fullerton Strikes Quickly to Stop Bellflower

Fullerton scored often in the first half and then used a solid defense to secure a 28-7 victory over Bellflower Friday night at Bellflower High School.

“Our defense is playing progressively better,” Coach Julian Smilowitz said. “We are working well as a team.”

In the first half, the Indians (4-0) limited recovered two fumbles, intercepted two passes, made three sacks and limited Bellflower to 78 total yards.

After Fullerton took a 7-0 lead on a three-yard touchdown run by John Wilkie, Bellflower quarterback Jonathon Rivers fumbled on the Indians’ 29-yard line.

Seven plays later, Chad Lukkes completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Emigh to give the Indians a 14-0 lead with 1:35 left in the first quarter.

On Bellflower’s next play from scrimmage, Rivers’ pass was intercepted by Pedro Torres. That set up a five-play drive capped by a David Barrios’ two-yard touchdown, which put the Indians up, 21-0, at halftime.

Fullerton’s offense sputtered in the third quarter and a fumble by Wilkie at the Indians’ 12-yard line led to Bellflower’s only score. Rod Moore scored on a 12-yard run to cut Fullerton’s lead to 21-7.

The Buccaneers (1-3) threatened to make a game of it when Marques Hannie rushed 59 yards to Fullerton’s 11-yard line. But on the next play, Mario Ramirez intercepted a Rivers pass to stop the drive.

Fullerton then ran out the clock with a time-consuming scoring drive capped by Barrios’ two-yard touchdown run with 52 seconds left to play.