COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Fullerton Grabs a 25-14 Victory

Fullerton College discounted years of conventional football wisdom by winning Saturday without even a hint of running game.

The Hornets survived a wild 30 seconds during which Saddleback appeared to have taken the lead, and beat the Gauchos, 25-14, in a Mission Conference Central Division game in Mission Viejo.

Fullerton had minus-21 yards rushing, but clinched the victory when defensive back Mike Flores returned an interception a school-record 98 yards to put Fullerton ahead, 25-14, with 15 seconds left.

“I was just back-peddling and took a chance and it paid off,” said Flores, who got the ball in the middle of field and broke to left sideline.

Three plays earlier, Saddleback’s players were celebrating when quarterback Justin Vedder, who already had two fourth-down completions to keep the drive alive, passed 11 yards to Jackie Conners, who caught the ball as he was sliding across the middle of the end zone.

But a Saddleback offensive lineman was penalized for a head slap, negating the play.

“I’ve never seen that before,” Saddleback Coach Bill Cunerty said of the call.

Saddleback (2-3, 1-1 in the division) had started the game in a much more positive fashion.

Conners had a 30-yard touchdown pass from Vedder and Greg Payseno added a seven-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and Saddleback led, 14-3. Payseno (103 yards) became the first Saddleback running back in two seasons to gain at least a 100 yards in a game.

Fullerton went ahead, 17-14, when reserve quarterback Brandon Brennan completed a one-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Schatz with 5:20 left.

The drive appeared to stall earlier but the Hornets (1-3-1, 1-0) faked a field-goal attempt and holder Garrett Campbell ran 14 yards for first down at the Saddleback 15.

“I’m glad we hadn’t used that play earlier,” Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy said. “We were going to do it tonight, it was just a matter of when.”

Fullerton cut Saddleback’s lead to 14-10 when Charlie Watkins caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Eric Hannah when 9:16 left in the second quarter.

Saddleback had a chance to score on the final play of the half when defensive lineman Jason Braun picked up a fumble at the Fullerton 43 and started toward the end zone.

Fullerton running back Mike Jacot, the last Hornet with a chance, tackled Braun at the Hornet 21.